Holy Smoke
Best of the Spectator
Holy Smoke: Catholic Burnham barred – should the law change?
- Published
- September 13, 2026
- Duration
- 14:43
- Summary source
- description
- Last updated
- Sep 13, 2026
Discusses daily, society, culture.
Summary
Andy Burnham has announced his intention to change a law which bars him from advising the King on appointments to the Church of England. The Victorian-era law explicitly bars Catholics like Burnham, as well as Jews – but doesn't prevent those of other Christian denominations, other faiths – like Hindu Rishi Sunak, or atheists like Keir Starmer. So, if the…
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Show notes
Andy Burnham has announced his intention to change a law which bars him from advising the King on appointments to the Church of England. The Victorian-era law explicitly bars Catholics like Burnham, as well as Jews – but doesn't prevent those of other Christian denominations, other faiths – like Hindu Rishi Sunak, or atheists like Keir Starmer. So, if the law is going to be changed to address this anomaly, should it allow all Prime Ministers of any faith to provide advice – or should all non-Ang
Themes
- daily
- society
- culture