Here’s the scenario. See what you can make of it.
Number 10:
‘Tony?’
The PM looked up.
‘I’m afraid,’ said Alastair Campbell, with a grimace, ‘we’re going to have to do God.’
BBC: BBC News at Six:
Huw Edwards deployed The Eyebrow to subtle effect. ‘... at Six. The Archbishop of Canterbury, the Most Reverend and Right Honourable Dr George Carey, has announced his intention to retire. Dr Carey....’
The Crown Appointments Commission:
William Chapman, the PM’s appointments secretary, shook his head. ‘The Prime Minister believes that the Church must look – and certainly an Archbishop of Canterbury, who is also, well, the centre man of the wider Communion, having a certain precedence, must look – more like modern Britain. Views are important, of course. But so are appearances, in archbishops. A certain diversity would be welcomed.’
BBC: BBC News at Six:
‘Now,’ said Huw, with an extra dollop of Welsh in his tone, ‘what is this we are hearing, Fiona?’
‘A formal announcement is expected shortly; but rumour is clamorous here at St Stephen’s Green and outside Number Ten, where Nick Robinson is standing by, that, outsider or not at the bookmakers’, the name to be sent to Her Majesty is that of –’
The (London) Gazette:
Take it from there. What happens next?
Number 10:
‘Tony?’
The PM looked up.
‘I’m afraid,’ said Alastair Campbell, with a grimace, ‘we’re going to have to do God.’
BBC: BBC News at Six:
Huw Edwards deployed The Eyebrow to subtle effect. ‘... at Six. The Archbishop of Canterbury, the Most Reverend and Right Honourable Dr George Carey, has announced his intention to retire. Dr Carey....’
The Crown Appointments Commission:
William Chapman, the PM’s appointments secretary, shook his head. ‘The Prime Minister believes that the Church must look – and certainly an Archbishop of Canterbury, who is also, well, the centre man of the wider Communion, having a certain precedence, must look – more like modern Britain. Views are important, of course. But so are appearances, in archbishops. A certain diversity would be welcomed.’
BBC: BBC News at Six:
‘Now,’ said Huw, with an extra dollop of Welsh in his tone, ‘what is this we are hearing, Fiona?’
‘A formal announcement is expected shortly; but rumour is clamorous here at St Stephen’s Green and outside Number Ten, where Nick Robinson is standing by, that, outsider or not at the bookmakers’, the name to be sent to Her Majesty is that of –’
The (London) Gazette:
The QUEEN has been pleased to order a Congé d’Elire to pass the Great Seal of the Realm empowering the College of Canons of the Cathedral and Metropolitical Church of Christ, Canterbury, to elect an Archbishop of the See of Canterbury, the same being void by the resignation of the Most Reverend and Right Honourable George Leonard Carey, B.D., M.The, Ph.D., lately Archbishop thereof; and her Majesty has been pleased to recommend to the said College of Canons the Right Reverend Michael James Nazir-Ali, M.Litt. (Cantab), M.Litt. (Oxon), Th.D., Bishop of Rochester, to be by them elected Bishop of the said See.
Take it from there. What happens next?