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Appointment Of The New Archbishop Of Canterbury

EDM number 787 in 1989-90, proposed by Tony Benn on 26/03/1990.

That this House believes that the control of the Church of England by the state is a dangerous anachronism that ought to end; further believes that it is wrong both in principle, and in practice, that the appointment of archbishops and bishops should be political and hence in the hands of the Prime Minister of the day, who is not required by law to be an Anglican or even a Christian; therefore believes that the appointment of a new Archbishop of Canterbury ought to be the sole responsibility of the Church of England, over which he will be required to exercise his leadership; therefore requests the Synod to determine, by whatever means it believes best, the name of the person it wishes to succeed Dr Runcie and to put forward that name and no other; and calls upon the Prime Minister to accept that nomination and convey it, without question, for the formal approval of Crown.

This motion has been signed by a total of 21 MPs.

MPDateConstituencyPartyType
Tony Benn26/03/1990ChesterfieldProposed
David Hinchliffe27/03/1990WakefieldSigned
Ian McCartney27/03/1990MakerfieldSigned
Alan Meale27/03/1990MansfieldSigned
Bill Michie27/03/1990Sheffield, HeeleySigned
Gordon Oakes27/03/1990HaltonSigned
Lawrence Cunliffe27/03/1990LeighSigned
Terry Davis27/03/1990Birmingham, Hodge HillSigned
Andrew Faulds27/03/1990Warley EastSigned
Harry Barnes27/03/1990North East DerbyshireSigned
Elliot Morley28/03/1990Glanford and ScunthorpeSigned
Jim Wallace28/03/1990Orkney & ShetlandSigned
Jimmy Dunnachie28/03/1990Glasgow, PollokSigned
Dawn Primarolo29/03/1990Bristol SouthSigned
Roland Boyes29/03/1990Houghton and WashingtonSigned
Harry Cohen29/03/1990LeytonSigned
Norman Godman29/03/1990Greenock and Port GlasgowSigned
John Battle29/03/1990Leeds WestSigned
Dennis Turner29/03/1990Wolverhampton South EastSigned
James Wray04/04/1990Glasgow ProvanSigned
Eric Illsley05/04/1990Barnsley CentralSigned

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