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Trouble over Gordon Brown's plan to let royal heirs wed Catholics
Nicholas Cecil, Chief Political Correspondent27 Mar 2009
GORDON Brown was hit by a backlash today against plans to tackle discrimination against Catholics and women in royal succession laws.
Leading Catholic MP Ann Widdecombe warned that Britain's identity as a Christian nation could be destroyed by amending 300-year-old legislation which stops the monarch or heir to the throne marrying a Catholic.
The Church of England raised concerns about the "potential consequences" of reforming the Act of Settlement 1701.
Senior Tory MP Edward Leigh also signalled he would oppose new laws to end the practice of male heirs taking precedence in the royal line of succession.
However, MPs from all three parties lined up in the Commons to support a Private Member's Bill to abolish the restrictions on royal marriages and give equal succession rights for women.
Mr Brown has revealed that the Government and Palace are in talks on the issue, which he is to raise with Commonwealth leaders in November.
However, ministers refused to back the Bill, brought forward by Liberal Democrat MP Evan Harris, and they won support from Tory leader David Cameron who said that any reforms should not be rushed.
Ms Widdecombe, MP for Maidstone and the Weald, led opposition to the Bill, saying: "If we get rid of the provision that the heir to the throne and the monarch can't marry a Catholic, we will undermine the link between the monarchy and the Church of England which will threaten the establishment of the Church taking with it our last figleaf that we are a Christian country."
Tory MP Peter Luff, an Anglican, echoed her worries, saying: "I fear changing these laws will lead to the disestablishment of the Church of England."
Catholic MP Mr Leigh, whose son Benedict is 640th in line to the throne, dismissed arguments that the laws could not be swiftly overhauled because nine Acts of Parliament would need to be amended and at least 15 Commonwealth countries consulted.
He said the Government had hinted it would legislate quickly if Prince William was to marry a Catholic and such discrimination would not be tolerated against Jews or Muslims.
The Church of England called for "a full assessment of all the potential consequences" of any changes. A No 10 spokesman said there was "no question" of the Church being disestablished.
Reader views (42)
When, may I ask, is the Pope going to be allowed to marry a Protestant?
- Tom, Lincolnshire, uk, 05/07/2011 19:33
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People just dont get it do the. the monarch is the head of state of The UK. The UK is the only nation in the world to ban a race from being Head of State. Its racist.
they used to have it in Germany when they baned jews form being head of state, they used to have it in South Africa when they banned coloured from being head of State. Only Britain is left being racist.
- Sydneytim, Sydney Australia, 26/11/2009 23:12
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It is rather crazy that a Muslim or a Jew can become king of a "christian" nation but a Catholic can't.
Anyway if the C of E keeps going the way it is, the royal family will give them the punt anyway haha
- Kenna, UK, 27/10/2009 22:24
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After the comments the leader of the Catholics made regarding condoms and there roll in reducing the spread of the HIV virus should any government be encouraging these people.
- Kev, London-UK, 27/10/2009 21:24
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Some of the comments on this site underline perfectly why Roman Catholics continue to be persecuted in the United Kingdom because of their faith - especially by the lunatics in Scotland.
- Tangomike, Kensington, London, 27/10/2009 21:24
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@Ralph, GB: time for your medication, dear
- Marianne, SW France, 27/10/2009 21:24
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Well, the New Labour Project has already succeeded brilliantly in bringing England to its knees, cramming Parliament and the NHS management with all their mates, so all that's left to destroy is the Monarchy. I can just see all those tourists paying to visit President Brown's residence/s, as we all flock to visit the German President, the French President - yeah right!
- Anne, London, UK, 27/10/2009 21:24
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The male/female heir issue? It is a shaving away of tradition in a traditional institution, but alone it would cause no harm when all is said and done.
The Catholic issue? How can the head of the Church of England be a Catholic? That would be the inevitable consequence at some point or another as nature takes its course and royal couples adjust to each other's religeous practices. Atheists will say, 'so what?', but there are plenty of practicing Christians out there too for whom religion IS important.
Simply put, these issues are an oblique attack against the monarchy itself, both of them undermining it to the extent that it could be asked why the institution exists at all. If that is what is being aimed at then GB should be honest about it, not this underhandedness. If he wants to debate the Monarchy, then he should man up and do it.
.....and I say this as a catholic and a supporter of the monarchy.
- Rogan, Irving, 27/10/2009 21:24
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Does Brown believe his own spin so much as the reconciler of the world's politics--that he's throwing in the Crown and the Church as well? Bring on the millenium Gordon!
- Pam, Michigan, USA, 27/10/2009 21:24
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Why is this lunatic wasting his time (and my money) on trivia? Who cares who the Windsors marry? I for one favour a republic as the thought of the adulterous Charles and Camilla sitting on thrones appals me.
- R.F., Yorks, UK, 27/10/2009 21:24
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Roman Catholics should not qualify as monarchs or their consorts until the reigning Pope both declares ex cathedra that Pius V erred in claiming to dethrone Elizabeth I in 1570, and that British subjects must always owe their full loyalty to our head of state and not to the Head of the Vatican City State.
We cannot accept the right of a foreign ruler to absolve British subjects from their true allegiance.
- Eric, London, England, 27/10/2009 21:24
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This idiotic excuse for a world leader feels he must pronounce on everything from 'Jane' Goody to the succession rights of the monarchy. What a phoney.
- Andrew, Leaving the sinking ship England, 27/10/2009 21:24
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So, Boredom 'Doom and Bust' Clown went to the Pope to get his orders, did he? Just like bliar the Liar before him. The EU is a Roman Catholic plan to subjugate this country under its power.
- Ralph, GB, 27/10/2009 21:24
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If it ain't broke, don't fix it. As an earlier commentator pointed out, if an heir to the throne wished to marry a Catholic, they just step aside.
What is this unelected jack-in-office Brown trying to accomplish? Find another bandwagon to jump on.
- Edward Thompson, Bedfordshire, 27/10/2009 21:24
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I wonder how long it took Brown and his advisers to come up with this pathetic attempt at a distraction from the government's failings. Maybe they just stuck a pin in a list.
- J, London, 27/10/2009 21:24
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I doubt the idea of reformation by accepting Catholicism in England if one of the Windsor's marries a Catholic. I think the queen's place as head of the church of England will have to be forgotten and the Pope will be the head of the church. I fully agree to this new proposal. The past is dismissed and we live in freedom times. Why Not!!!
- Carmen Inglott, Sliema, Malta., 27/10/2009 21:24
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People in England do not understand. Brown is thinking of the Catholic votes in Scotland stupid otherwise the SNP will triumph got it !!
- Nick Holland, glasgow, 27/10/2009 21:24
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This is a distraction and an indirect attack on the monarchy even if unintended. As a Scot Gordon Brown will know that succession issues contributed to the abolition of the Scottish parliament, rightly or wrongly. Leave well alone, too many other issues will get added to the agenda by anti-monarchists.
- Ian, Sheffield, 27/10/2009 21:24
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This will have the knock-on effect of making all Orange Marches in NI, completely pointless.......
- Frank, Bristol UK, 27/10/2009 21:24
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I couldn't care who less who is Monarch but one thing I know for sure. If Brown tinkers with it - it will back-fire, go badly wrong or cost the taxpayer a lot of money. It is time this idiot was drummed out of parliament.
- Saxon, Cowes UK, 27/10/2009 21:24
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Does anyone else find discussing equality and royalty an oxymoron? This dysfunctional family in their social housing (albeit a castle or two) and on full benefits (civil list) is all about being treated differently from ordinary citizens. Why just Catholics? our Muslim chums are also being discriminated against.
I thought the country was about to implode. Well done Gordon for getting priorities in order.
- Edgar, London UK, 27/10/2009 21:24
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This is just another Brown trying to win the catholic vote excercise in Scotland..why do Catholics always think they are oppressed?
Why cant protestants be pope then or why cant we have a jewish or muslim pope.
Brown should leave the monarchy alone...
- Jane Pollock, Glasgow, 27/10/2009 21:24
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It is good to see, during a recession, that Crash Gordon and co. are keeping up the fine tradition of dealing with the vital problems that face his nation.
- Dave Filton, Bristol England, 27/10/2009 21:24
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Whilst I agree with this in practice, aren't there a few more pressing issues to be dealt with first?
Currently neither the heir to the throne nor his heir would be affected by such a change in the law. If in time we get a first-born female in the immediate succession who might lose out to a later-born brother, or an heir that wants to become/marry a Catholic, *then* we can amend the succession law.
Let's concentrate on fixing the economy first Gordon.
- Roy, England, 27/10/2009 21:24
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As an atheist I couldn't care less if the Royal Heir apparent married a donkey and their surname became ASS.
What an irrelevant load of claptrap who cares?
- Ros, London UK, 27/10/2009 21:24
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How about he discussing being charged with Treason given the state he has left this country in?
- Amanda Brent, London, 27/10/2009 21:24
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Mr Brown should butt out and leave The Royal Family alone. We are all fed up with his tinkering - none of which has done this country any good and has probably done us immeasurable harm. I would rather have our hardworking, intensely trustworthy Queen who has devoted her life to working for the good of this country than any jumped up little Scotsman who is clearly devoted only to bringing this country to it's knees. And has nearly suceeded.
- Royalisttothecore, London UK, 27/10/2009 21:24
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We seem to forget that we have had RC monarchs in the past and as a result we had to remove them and invite a Protestant to take the throne . . . no need to invite history to repeat itself again.
Those who bow their knees to the Bishop of Rome (a foreign power) are not worthy nor acceptable as Monarch of the UK.
This may sound bigoted, but it is a belief held by many in the UK as a whole in line with their Christian faith being based upon the precepts of the Westminster Confession.
Sorry to offend anyone's sensibilities.
- Eoin Mcgreeghan, Derry, NI, 27/10/2009 21:24
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1701 - no comment !
- Rick Deckard, London UK, 27/10/2009 21:24
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Er, aren't there more important things for hot air Brown to be doing, other than this. To the equality/discrimination brigade this is the most important thing since Adam was a lad. To those of us that are unemployed, or are pensioners, or just generally suffering because of the incompetence of this man then this is so far down the list of priorities as to be insignificant. By all means, debate the issues when times are better, but not now.
- Alan, carlisle uk, 27/10/2009 21:24
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If the Prime Minister thinks this little sideshow will distract attention from the main items on the agenda, then he's a bigger fool than I thought he was.
- Henry Wood, Newcastle upon Tyne, 27/10/2009 21:24
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This, as has been said, is just a sideline. I would suggest that what is needed is a full public debate on the future of the monarchy itself. This country urgently requires an elected Head of State, and a formal written Constitution. Until that is achieved Democracy is just a distant vision.
- neil, Gloucestershire, England., 27/10/2009 21:24
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This is a cynical exercise to distract attention from the economy. All members of this government should have more important things to do.
- jeremy E, London, 27/10/2009 21:24
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I thought he was in the business of Government.Obviously he is not keeping busy enough with existing projects!
- harvey lawrence, London, 27/10/2009 21:24
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There's nothing stopping heirs to the throne marrying Roman Catholics: all they have to do is step aside from the succession. Glad the PM's got his finger on the day's hottest issue yet again.
- mdj e10, london uk, 27/10/2009 21:24
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how about 11 years of discriminating against the law-abiding tax-paying little people?
- Marianne, SW France, 27/10/2009 21:24
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I agree with the comment that talking about equality and royalty is an oxymoron and is laughable.
Admittedly, it is a new aristocracy, bankers and not hereditary landowners, that have brought us to our knees this time in bailouts, however, everything royal smacks of privilege of birth and being at the opposite extreme to merit-based democracy - not at all what the UK needs right now or in the future.
- Mike, london, 27/10/2009 21:24
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Yes, of course there are more pressing problems for the country, but that should never mean that all other matters are overlooked. Well done to Gordon Brown for moving this outdated and discriminatory law up the agenda for reform.
- Frank, Home Counties, England, UK, 27/10/2009 21:24
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Gordon should be thinking of his retirement in Scotland he has caused enough bother down here.
- David., Chertsey.UK., 27/10/2009 21:24
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Blair is now a Catholic, maybe he can become King Tony of Airbase 1
- Paul Taylor, sz, 27/10/2009 21:24
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I'm French, a man and not catholic and like all these comments. But could the British, all you readers, look into this with a little more introspection:
Kings and Queens : ever tried to class them in order of merit ?
Well lets see what happens: who were the 10 best ?
Queen Boadicea, Elizabeth I, Victoria, William I, Henry VIII, Elizabeth II plus a George or Edward here and there. And don't forget the Queen Mum who in fact was not Queen in the complete terms of the word.
Unless I'l wrong that means 4 women, sorry Queens, amongst the 6 best.
Now maybe you can understand why men, sorry Kings, have always tried to keep women out!
- Terry. B, Toulouse, France, 27/10/2009 21:24
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Out comes out the "old chestnut" when Brown & Co need a diversion for the media. Of course, the media -- as per usual -- fall for it. The old globe-trotter and his party must be having a smile at the success of their ploy in diverting attention from the near-bankrupt economy.
- Phil Jones, London UK, 27/10/2009 21:24
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