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House of Commons (Removal of Clergy Disqualification) Act 2001

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House of Commons (Removal of Clergy Disqualification) Act 2001
Act of Parliament
Long titleAn 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.
Citation2001 c. 13
Territorial extent 
  • England and Wales
  • Scotland
  • Northern Ireland
Dates
Royal assent11 May 2001
Commencement11 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Text of statute as originally enacted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
Long titleAn Act to remove Doubts respecting the Eligibility of Persons in Holy Orders to sit in the House of Commons.
Citation41 Geo. 3. (U.K.) c. 63
Dates
Royal assent23 June 1801
Commencement23 June 1801
Repealed11 May 2001
Other legislation
Amended byStatute Law Revision Act 1872
Repealed byHouse of Commons (Removal of Clergy Disqualification) Act 2001
Status: Repealed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. The purpose of the Act was to remove the disqualifications for clergy in standing for election as Members of Parliament and sitting in the House of Commons. The Act also allowed clergy to sit in other elected bodies including the European Parliament. The act does, however, expressly reaffirm the continuing disqualification of those bishops of the Church of England who sit in the House of Lords as Lords Spiritual, as no person may sit in both Houses of Parliament at the same time.

Previously clergy were disqualified to sit in the House of Commons due to the House of Commons (Clergy Disqualification) Act 1801 and section 10 of the House of Commons Disqualification Act 1975.

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.

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