Andy Burnham is poised to become the United Kingdom's first openly Catholic Prime Minister, a development that activates a nearly 500-year-old religious divide stemming from King Henry VIII's split with Rome. This historical context means specific measures remain in place to safeguard the Church of England.
Under a 19th-century law, the Roman Catholic Relief Act of 1829, Burnham is prohibited from advising the King on appointments to senior positions within the Church of England. The Act states that any individual violating this provision would be "deemed guilty of a high misdemeanour, and disabled for ever from holding any office." In practice, this duty will be delegated to another government minister.
The constitutional issue surrounding a Catholic in the highest office was previously noted when Boris Johnson became Prime Minister in 2019, though he had technically entered Downing Street as an Anglican. Tony Blair also converted to Catholicism months after leaving his post as Prime Minister.
Burnham, who was raised in Merseyside and educated in Catholic schools, has historically been open about his faith. In 2009, he told The Guardian that his life was primarily shaped by family, Everton FC, the Labour Party, and the Catholic Church. However, his stated religious observance has varied; in 2015, he described himself as Catholic by upbringing but not particularly religious, though he affirmed his belief in the values instilled by Catholic education.
Richard Moth, the Archbishop of Westminster and leader of the Catholic Church in England and Wales, has suggested that Burnham's faith will inform his premiership. "It certainly has meaning to me, and I'm sure it does to him," Moth stated, adding that faith informs conscience and one's perspective on issues. He expressed hope that Burnham's Catholic understanding would lead to a focus on human dignity, the needs of families, and the homeless.
Burnham has also voiced critiques of the modern Catholic Church, noting in a 2015 interview that it appeared to have lost touch with many British Catholics on issues such as gay rights and birth control. He recalled a more forgiving and humane church from his youth, contrasting it with a perceived shift towards a more judgmental mode, preoccupied with sexuality.
Despite these observations, Burnham has emphasized the influence of Catholic social teaching on his political outlook. "Catholic social teaching underpins my politics," he stated.
