House of Commons (Removal of Clergy Disqualification) Act 2001
| Act of Parliament | |
.svg) | |
| Long title | An Act to remove any disqualification from membership of the House of Commons that arises by reason of a person having been ordained or being a minister of a religious denomination and to continue the disqualification of Lords Spiritual from such membership. |
|---|---|
| Citation | 2001 c. 13 |
| Territorial extent |
|
| Dates | |
| Royal assent | 11 May 2001 |
| Commencement | 11 May 2001 |
| Other legislation | |
| Relates to | |
Status: Current legislation | |
| Text of statute as originally enacted | |
| Text of the House of Commons (Removal of Clergy Disqualification) Act 2001 as in force today (including any amendments) within the United Kingdom, from legislation.gov.uk. | |
| House of Commons (Clergy Disqualification) Act 1801 | |
|---|---|
| Act of Parliament | |
.svg) | |
| Long title | An Act to remove Doubts respecting the Eligibility of Persons in Holy Orders to sit in the House of Commons. |
| Citation | 41 Geo. 3. (U.K.) c. 63 |
| Dates | |
| Royal assent | 23 June 1801 |
| Commencement | 23 June 1801 |
| Repealed | 11 May 2001 |
| Other legislation | |
| Amended by | |
| Repealed by | House of Commons (Removal of Clergy Disqualification) Act 2001 |
Status: Repealed | |
| Text of the House of Commons (Clergy Disqualification) Act 1801 as in force today (including any amendments) within the United Kingdom, from legislation.gov.uk. | |
The House of Commons (Removal of Clergy Disqualification) Act 2001 (c. 13) is an act of the Parliament of the United Kingdom.
Background
Previously clergy were disqualified to sit in the House of Commons due to the House of Commons (Clergy Disqualification) Act 1801 (41 Geo. 3. (U.K.) c. 63) and section 10 of the House of Commons Disqualification Act 1975.[1]
The bill was a reaction to the selection of David Cairns, a laicised Catholic priest, as the Labour candidate for the safe seat of Greenock and Inverclyde. Member of Parliament Siobhain McDonagh had previously introduced similar legislation in 1999, but it had run out of parliamentary time.[2]
Criticism
The legislation was criticised by Conservative shadow minister Anne Widdecombe for, in her view, leading to conflict between "God and Caesar.[3][1]
See also
External links
- Text of the House of Commons (Removal of Clergy Disqualification) Act 2001 as in force today (including any amendments) within the United Kingdom, from legislation.gov.uk.
- Explanatory note to the Act
References
- ^ a b "Commons paves way for priest MPs". BBC News. 1 March 2001. Archived from the original on 25 December 2023. Retrieved 3 January 2026.
- ^ "Would-be MP fights to change law". BBC News. 16 July 2000. Archived from the original on 21 November 2023. Retrieved 3 January 2026.
- ^ "PRIESTS AND ANGLICAN CLERGY MAY BECOME MPs". Local Government Chronicle. 7 February 2001. Retrieved 3 January 2026.
{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service (link)
