‘ Lord Sentamu’ snub shameful

Downing Street excuses invalid

IT IS totally disingenuous of 10 Downing Street to first blame House of Lords numbers, and then points of procedure over the honours system, for appearing to overlook – some might say neglect – the proposed peerage for Dr John Sentamu, the distinguished former Archbishop of York.

Neither argument holds water when the most recent appointments include Boris Johnson’s brother Jo; cricket legend Sir Ian Botham for backing the PM over Brexit and Claire Fox, a one- time Revolutionary Communist Party member.

And while No 10 Downing Street says that Dr Sentamu can expect to receive a life peerage imminently, and the swiftness of this volteface speaks volumes over this undiginifed snub, it leaves itself open to the charge of “institutional prejudice” – and cronyism – after Britain’s first black archbishop was not automatically ennobled when he retired in line with precedent.

After all, Dr Sentamu would not – unlike so many – be returning to the House of Lords, where he served with distinction as Archbishop, to make up the numbers as lobby fodder. He would be sitting as a cross- bench peer and looking to use his years of experience to advance social justice and countless issues close to his heart.

And while there needs to be a debate about the jurisdiction of the Lords, and whether political patronage needs to be curtailed, it is a diminished chamber without the wisdom of Dr Sentamu who was deserving of his place on merit and without delay.

A pioneering Archbishop who blessed York and Yorkshire with his presence and personality in so many different ways, Lord Sentamu – as he will become known when the Government finally consents – will enhance the quality of public debate at a time when so few figures possess his uncanny and unique ability to reach out to people of all faiths and backgrounds and, crucially, be respected in return.