Joshua Bennett
The Roman Catholic Relief Act of 1829 was a pivotal moment in British history, allowing Catholics to hold public office as MPs for the first time. Despite this, the UK has never had a Catholic prime minister, and only a handful of Catholic MPs have represented British constituencies since the Act was passed. In recent times, prominent Catholic MPs have included Tom Tugendhat, Sir Bill Cash, and Jacob Rees-Mogg, who have all made their mark on British politics while upholding their Catholic beliefs and values.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Number of Catholic MPs in the House of Commons | 68 |
| Number of Labour Party MPs who are Catholic | 40 |
| Number of Conservative MPs who are Catholic | 19 |
| Number of Liberal Democrat MPs who are Catholic | 5 |
| Number of Social Democratic Labour MPs who are Catholic | 3 |
| Number of Scottish Nationalist MPs who are Catholic | 1 |
| Number of Sinn Feinn MPs who are Catholic | 5 |
| First Catholic Prime Minister of the UK | Boris Johnson |
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What You'll Learn
Boris Johnson is the first Catholic UK Prime Minister
Boris Johnson, the former UK Prime Minister, is the first Catholic to hold the office. Johnson was baptised as an infant into the Catholic faith of his mother, Charlotte Johnson Wahl. However, as a teenager, he converted to Anglicanism and was confirmed into the Church of England. Johnson's faith took a turn back to Catholicism when he decided to have his son with his now wife, Carrie Symonds, baptised as a Catholic. Johnson and Symonds would later marry at Westminster Cathedral, the seat of English Catholicism. According to the Catholic Church's canon law, Johnson had remained a Catholic as it is not possible to formally defect from the Church.
Johnson's religion became a topic of discussion during his time as Prime Minister, with some seeing it as a watershed moment and a breakthrough moment for Catholics in the UK. Others, like Christopher Lamb, the Tablet Rome correspondent, criticised Johnson for not being a good Catholic role model, citing Brexit as an example of a decision that was "not in line with Catholic Social Teaching".
The number of Catholic MPs in the UK has been slowly increasing over the years, with the 1829 Roman Catholic Relief Act allowing Catholics to hold public office. While the exact number of Catholic MPs is unknown, there are prominent Catholic leaders in the UK today who are making a difference in various sectors, including politics.
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There are 68 Catholic MPs in the House of Commons
The presence of Catholic MPs in the House of Commons is a notable aspect of Britain's political landscape. While the country has a history of religious persecution and an established Church of England, the Roman Catholic Relief Act of 1829 marked a turning point, permitting Catholics to hold public office. This legislative change paved the way for Catholic representation in Parliament.
Among the Catholic MPs in the House of Commons, some have gained prominence for their religious views and how they intersect with their political stances. For instance, Cabinet Minister Therese Coffey, a Conservative, has voted against same-sex marriage and expressed her preference for people not having abortions. Another Conservative, Jacob Rees-Mogg, holds similar views, opposing abortion in all circumstances.
The election of Boris Johnson, a baptized Catholic, as Prime Minister, also drew attention to the role of Catholicism in British politics. Johnson's religious background sparked discussions about the role of the Prime Minister in appointments within the Church of England, given the historical responsibility associated with the position. However, Johnson's tenure as the first baptized Catholic Prime Minister was marked by a general lack of fuss about his religious affiliation.
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Catholics have only been allowed to be MPs since 1829
The United Kingdom is a nation with a historically strong Church of England influence, with the monarch as the head of the Church. As such, the country has a long history of anti-Catholic sentiment. From the reign of Elizabeth I, when Anglican Protestantism became the official faith of England and Wales, Catholicism was rejected. Elizabeth demanded public conformity to the new patterns of worship, and all clergy and public officials were required to take an oath of supremacy, acknowledging the monarch as the supreme governor of the Church.
Over the following centuries, the small Catholic population in Britain faced persecution and various restrictions. In the 16th and 17th centuries, most public officials were required to take an oath rejecting the Pope's authority. After the Gunpowder Plot of 1605, an oath of allegiance was introduced, denouncing any conspiracies against the Crown. Despite this, a handful of Catholics managed to become members of Parliament, usually representing small boroughs where the dominant landowner was Catholic.
In the 18th century, the position of Catholics began to improve, and the Catholic Relief Act of 1791 gave Catholics freedom of worship and allowed them to hold junior public offices and live in London. However, it was not until 1829, with the passing of the Catholic Emancipation Act, also known as the Roman Catholic Relief Act, that Catholics were permitted to sit as MPs, hold senior government offices, and vote in elections. This was the culmination of a fifty-year process of Catholic emancipation, driven by figures such as Irish barrister Daniel O'Connell, who formed the Catholic Association to demand full political rights for Irish Catholics.
The passing of the Catholic Emancipation Act marked a significant shift in British society, undermining Anglican supremacy and leading to the "shattering of a whole social order", as described by historian J. C. D. Clark. It is important to note that even after 1829, Catholics still faced some restrictions. For example, they were not allowed to advise the British monarch on episcopal appointments within the Church of England. Nonetheless, the Catholic Emancipation Act represented a major step towards religious equality in the United Kingdom, and today, there are several prominent Catholic figures in British politics, including former Prime Minister Boris Johnson.
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Several Catholics will help choose the next PM
Several Catholics will help choose the next UK Prime Minister. This is significant because, historically, there has been opposition to Catholics serving in this role due to their responsibility for certain appointments in the Church of England. However, the Roman Catholic Relief Act of 1829 permitted Catholics to sit in Parliament and hold government office, and the UK has since had a Catholic prime minister, Boris Johnson, who occupied 10 Downing Street for almost three years.
The process of selecting a new prime minister involves the leader of the majority party in the House of Commons, currently the Conservative Party, being invited by the Queen to "form a government." The leader is chosen through a series of ballots by sitting Tory Members of Parliament, and the list of two final candidates is put to a vote for all card-carrying party members nationwide.
Among the Catholics who will help choose the next prime minister through this process are Cabinet ministers Therese Coffey, Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, and Jacob Rees-Mogg, Minister for Brexit Opportunities and Government Efficiency. Both have voted against same-sex marriage, and Rees-Mogg has also expressed opposition to abortion in all circumstances. Other Catholic MPs who will participate in the selection process include Tom Tugendhat, chairman of the foreign affairs committee in the House of Commons, Damian Hinds, former Education Secretary, and Sir Iain Duncan Smith, a long-standing Conservative MP.
While the UK has never had a Catholic prime minister, the current prime minister's son, Wilfred, was baptised in Westminster Cathedral, and his mother, Carrie, is Catholic. This highlights the evolving relationship between Catholicism and political leadership in the country.
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Catholic Cabinet ministers include Therese Coffey and Jacob Rees-Mogg
Coffey has described herself as a practising Catholic. In June 2022, she stated that she opposed abortion but did not condemn those who have had abortions. She has also voted against extending abortion rights to Northern Ireland.
Rees-Mogg, also a member of the Conservative Party, served as the Member of Parliament (MP) for North East Somerset from 2010 to 2024. He has served in various roles, including Leader of the House of Commons, Minister of State for Brexit Opportunities, and Secretary of State for Business, Energy, and Industrial Strategy. Rees-Mogg grew up attending weekly mass and Sunday school at the Roman Catholic Church of the Holy Ghost in Midsomer Norton.
Rees-Mogg has stated that he opposes same-sex marriage and that he takes his "whip from the hierarchy of the Roman Catholic Church rather than the [Conservative] Whip's Office." He has also expressed his belief that abortion should be banned in all circumstances, describing it as "a cult of death."
Both Coffey and Rees-Mogg have been open about their Catholic faith and have let it guide their political decisions and stances on issues such as abortion and same-sex marriage.
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Frequently asked questions
There are 68 members of the House of Commons who follow the Roman Catholic religion.
Boris Johnson was the first baptized Catholic to become Prime Minister.
Some Catholic MPs in the UK include Tom Tugendhat, Jacob Rees-Mogg, Damian Hinds, and Therese Coffey.
