Lord Elystan-Morgan
Main Page: Lord Elystan-Morgan (Crossbench - Life peer)Department Debates - View all Lord Elystan-Morgan's debates with the Ministry of Justice
(13 years, 11 months ago)
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Lord McNally
That is a matter for another day and another debate. I will settle on the statement made by Cardinal Cormac Murphy-O'Connor, who said that the Act of Settlement was,
“discriminatory. I think it will disappear, but I don't want to cause a great fuss”.
Lord Elystan-Morgan
My Lords, is it not the case that Section 1 of the Act of Settlement 1701 does not specifically proscribe any member of the Catholic faith from succeeding to the Crown? Rather, the wording is that the Crown shall devolve upon:
“The most excellent Princess Sophia Electress”—
who was the mother of George I—
“and the heirs of her body”.
The words “being Protestant” were then added.
Lord McNally
I will not start debating, discussing or challenging the noble Lord’s interpretation of Section 1 of the Act of Settlement 1701. I believe him.