Thread by @GeorgePeretzQC

NB that Tony Blair was not received into the Catholic Church until after he had resigned as PM.

https://twitter.com/joshuarozenberg/status/1398871680639029249

NB2: the process for selection of CofE (Arch)bishops is set out here. churchofengland.org/sites/default/…. One name (or one name and a “reserve for the contingency that it becomes impossible to appoint” the first candidate) goes to the PM.

So the PM’s role is now fairly nominal (though his appointments secretary serves as a non-voting member of the appointments committee, and his appointee chairs the selection committee for Archbishops).

But as @JoshuaRozenberg points out, the current PM has to step aside from even that nominal role. Query whether the prohibition on “indirect” advice also stops him from nominating anyone who sits on (or chairs) the selection committee.

NB3 there is no constitutional prohibition on a Mormon, Muslim, or atheist PM from involvement in the appointment of CofE bishops. Just Catholics.

If you think that no PM should now be involved in appointing CofE bishops in the C21, I’m with you. But note that CofE bishops vote as legislators on our laws. (And before you ask, I’m with you there, too.)

PS according to @austeni just now, Johnson is confirmed as an Anglican and not Catholic at all (and doesn’t have to be in order to be married in an RC church) - in which case the point made in the Rozenberg piece just doesn’t arise.