End church and monarch link - poll

A new poll shows a majority of MPs in favour of ending the historic link between the Church of England and the state.

The figures from CommunicateResearch show that 57% of a representative sample of members are in favour of disestablishment.

The constitutional position in which the Queen is officially both the head of state and the church is regarded by many as an anomaly.

It means that the Prime Minister is left to decide on episcopal appointments such as that of the Archbishop of Canterbury.

Tony Blair's decision to appoint gay clergyman Canon Jeffrey John as the Dean of St Albans drew criticism from some church traditionalists.

Researchers quizzed 106 Labour MPs, 63 Conservatives, and 32 from smaller parties, and data was weighted to reflect the distribution of parties in the House of Commons.

There was an even greater majority in favour of disestablishment among Labour MPs and those from the smaller parties, while 57% of Conservatives remained opposed.

Despite the results, only 37% of all MPs believed disestablishment would happen in the next 10 years.