Beautiful Virgin Islands

Tuesday, Jun 24, 2025

Britain's first black Archbishop to get peerage 'imminently' after row

Britain's first black Archbishop to get peerage 'imminently' after row

John Sentamu, who retired as the Archbishop of York in June, is expected to be given a place in the House of Lords after a row erupted over him not being automatically ennobled

John Sentamu is expected to get a life peerage imminently, it has emerged, after the Government was accused of "institutional prejudice" over Britain's first black archbishop not being automatically ennobled.

It was expected that Mr Sentamu, 71, who retired as the Archbishop of York on June 7, would be given a life peerage so he could continue sitting in the House of Lords in a personal capacity.

But No 10 did not announce the peerage despite his predecessor Lord Hope and the former Archbishops of Canterbury Rowan Williams and George Carey being made life peers when they stepped down.

A backlash was in part fuelled by a No 10 spokesman telling the Sunday Times that Mr Sentamu was kept off the list to keep numbers in the House of Lords down, despite Prime Minister Boris Johnson including his own brother, Jo Johnson.

However, a Whitehall source later told the PA news agency that Mr Sentamu's peerage was "imminent" and that the delay was due to a procedural hold up with the House of Lords Appointments Commission.


Reports claimed he was kept off the list to keep numbers in the House of Lords down


"He was put forward for a peerage but the approval process is still ongoing," the source said.

As an archbishop, he was among the 26 lords spiritual who have their places reserved in the upper chamber of Parliament for Church of England bishops.

After he stepped down, Mr Sentamu was informed by No 10 that he was in line for a peerage, asking him to confirm his suitability and willingness to accept, the Sunday Times reported.

However, a month later he was told that his name would not be included.

His successor, Stephen Cottrell, who was enthroned as the 98th Archbishop of York on Sunday, tweeted: "Disturbed to find out today that whether it be through negligence or intent my predecessor + Sentamu has not been given the peerage that has been the custom for many years.

"I trust this will soon be rectified. UKHouseofLords will benefit from his voice."

David Lammy, the shadow justice minister, said on Twitter : "No 10 broke a precedent and snubbed Britain's first black archbishop for a peerage because it says the House of Lords is too large, but it made room for Ian Botham, Claire Fox and Theresa May's husband. Blatant institutional prejudice."

David Davis, the former Conservative cabinet minister, said: "Number 10 has made a mistake in not ennobling John Sentamu.

"He was a great archbishop. It cannot claim it needs to limit the size of the Lords whilst elevating Boris's brother. It should be put right immediately."

Newsletter

Related Articles

Beautiful Virgin Islands
0:00
0:00
Close
Airlines Evaluate Flight Cancellations Amid Escalating US-Iran Tensions
Starmer Invites Innovators to Join Government Talent Scheme
UK Economy’s Strong Opening Quarter Shows Signs of Cooling
Harrods Seeks Court Order to Secure Al Fayed Estate for Victims
BA and Singapore Airlines Cancel Dubai Flights Amid Middle East Tensions
Trump Faces Backlash from MAGA Base Over Iran Strikes
Meta Bets $14 B on Alexandr Wang to Drive AI Ambitions
WATCH: Israeli forces show the aftermath of a massive airstrike at Iran's Isfahan nuclear site
FedEx Founder Fred Smith, ‘Heart and Soul’ of the Company, Dies at 80
Chinese Factories Shift Away from U.S. Amid Trump‑Era Tariffs
Pimco Seizes Opportunity in Japan’s Dislocated Bond Market
Labubu Doll Drives Pop Mart to Status as China’s Most Valuable Toy Maker
Global Coal Demand Defies Paris Accord Goals
We have new information and breaking details to share about what is shaping up to be a historic air campaign tonight
Six Massive Bombs Dropped on Fordow; Trump: 'A Historic Moment for the U.S., Israel, and the World'
Fordow: Deeply Buried Iranian Enrichment Site in U.S.–Israel Crosshairs
United States Conducts Precision Strikes on Iran’s Nuclear Sites
US strikes Iran nuclear sites, Trump says
Pakistan to nominate Trump for Nobel Peace Prize.
BBC Demands Perplexity AI Immediately Stop Using Its Content
Telegram Founder: I Will Leave My Fortune to Over 100 of My Children
Political Turmoil Resurfaces in Belgium Amid Economic Concerns
Fed policymakers divided on timing of interest rate cuts
Trump signals imminent agreement with Harvard University
Inheritance tax referendum alarms Swiss billionaire community
Japan cancels bilateral security meeting amid US defence demands
AI skeptic Emily Bender warns that ‘the emperor has no clothes’
Israel Confirms Assassination of Quds Force Commander in Tehran
16 Billion Login Credentials Leaked in Unprecedented Cybersecurity Breach
Senate hearing on who was 'really running' Biden White House kicks off
Iranian Military Officers Reportedly Seek Contact with Reza Pahlavi, Signal Intent to Defect
FBI and Senate Investigate Allegations of Chinese Plot to Influence the 2020 Election in Biden’s Favor Using Fake U.S. Driver’s Licenses
Vietnam Emerges as Luxury Yacht Destination for Ultra‑Rich
Plans to Sell Dutch Embassy in Bangkok Face Local Opposition
China's Iranian Oil Imports Face Disruption Amid Escalating Middle East Tensions
Trump's $5 Million 'Trump Card' Visa Program Draws Nearly 70,000 Applicants
DGCA Finds No Major Safety Concerns in Air India's Boeing 787 Fleet
Airlines Reroute Flights Amid Expanding Middle East Conflict Zones
Elon Musk's xAI Seeks $9.3 Billion in Funding Amid AI Expansion
Trump Demands Iran's Unconditional Surrender Amid Escalating Conflict
Israeli Airstrike Targets Iranian State TV in Central Tehran
President Trump is leaving the G7 summit early and has ordered the National Security Council to the Situation Room
Taiwan Imposes Export Ban on Chips to Huawei and SMIC
Israel has just announced plans to strike Tehran again, and in response, Trump has urged people to evacuate
Netanyahu Signals Potential Regime Change in Iran
Juncker Criticizes EU Inaction on Trump Tariffs
EU Proposes Ban on New Russian Gas Contracts
Analysts Warn Iran May Resort to Unconventional Warfare
Iranian Regime Faces Existential Threat Amid Conflict
Energy Infrastructure Becomes War Zone in Middle East
×