Image capture of a broadcast of a House of Lords debate, from Paul Scriven’s Twitter account (Second row, standing right of screen, presenting his plan.Liberal Democrat Paul Scriven introduced a bill to “destabilize the Church of England” in the House of Lords, the upper house of the British Parliament. The proposed legislation – which is unlikely to be approved – aims to officially separate church and state, stripping the Church of England (Anglican) of its established status as the official church of the kingdom, reported La Croix International December 7.
“In a modern, pluralistic and secular society, it is a very ancient and inalienable religious privilege to enshrine a religious institution at the heart of our constitution, at the heart of the organization and administration of the state,” said Lord Scriven. Submitting his bill on 6 December, he concluded: “The separation of Church of England and State should have been done long ago.”
As a legislative proposal put forward by a Member of Parliament, rather than the government, the proposal has a very limited period of study and possible debate. So the possibility of it becoming law is nil, especially coming from the House of Lords, which has far fewer powers than the House of Commons.
