London - A Bill to scrap a 200-year-old law that prevents some serving and former ministers of religion from becoming MPs was set to clear the Commons yesterday.
Government ministers hope that the House of Commons (Removal of Clergy Disqualification) Bill will reach the statute book before the general election, expected this spring.
During the debate, a former Conservative cabinet minister, Mr John Gummer, clashed with his own front bench after making a sharp attack on Jehovah's Witnesses. Mr Gummer branded members of the sect "heretical and potty".