The UK government has introduced a new bill to remove historic religious restrictions affecting the constitutional duties of the prime minister.

The Church Appointments (Repeal of Discriminatory Provision) Bill would allow a Roman Catholic or Jewish prime minister to provide advice to the King on appointments to senior positions in the Church of England.

The government said the restrictions originated in legislation from the late 18th and early 19th centuries. While other restrictions on Catholics and Jewish people in public life were subsequently removed, the provision concerning advice on Church of England appointments remained in place.

The short, targeted bill is designed to ensure that the prime minister can exercise the full constitutional responsibilities of the office, regardless of whether they are Roman Catholic or Jewish.

The legislation forms part of wider discussions about the UK's constitutional arrangements and how historic laws fit within the country's modern political system.