Brown told colleagues he would come to an agreement between the church and Downing Street to remove the prime minister from the selection process completely, making it the first time since the reign of Henry VIII, reports The Times.
According to the newspaper, it is generally believed that the Chancellor regards Downing Street’s control over the selection of bishops to the Church of England as anachronistic.
One source close to Brown said that the changes to the current law could be made without new legislation.
“He is simply altering convention,” the source said.
Under current law, the prime minister has the right to veto either or both of the two names put forward by the Crown Nominations Commission, one of which he must forward to the Queen for approval.In 1997 Tony Blair exercised his right to veto by refusing to approve both candidates put forward for the diocese of Liverpool.
Under new reforms proposed by Brown, the Queen would retain her commission and role in the selection process, while the prime minister would be removed entirely and would instead be responsible simply for passing on the choice of the commission to the palace for approval.
The former Bishop of Woolwich and a strong supporter of complete church and state separation, Colin Buchanan, said: “Anything that enables the church to function without the interference of parliament and government is to be welcomed.”
The intervention by the prime minister in the selection of bishops was introduced following a number of statutes passed by Henry VIII in the 1530s to take control over the church away from the papacy.
