Deirdre Costigan

Deirdre Costigan

Labour — Ealing Southall

Speaking in the House of Commons on 21 October 2026

Debate

Church Appointments (Repeal of Discriminatory Provision) Bill

Contribution

I am grateful to the Minister for giving way. It was the great Daniel O’Connell—elected Member of Parliament for County Clare in Ireland in 1828 but unable to take up his seat because he would not swear the Oath of Supremacy—who famously achieved Catholic emancipation through that 1829 Catholic relief Act. O’Connell was known as “The Liberator”, and Gladstone called him “the greatest popular leader whom the world has ever seen”, and yet to this day, there is no statue or portrait to O’Connell in this House. Does the Minister agree that today, 197 years on, the legacy of Daniel O’Connell, the Liberator, will finally be complete with full equality in elected office for both Catholics and Jews?

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