The unanimous decision by MPs means Lady Elish Angiolini KC will become the first Roman Catholic lord high commissioner to the Church of Scotland since the Claim of Right Act 1689.

The Stuart-era law had barred Catholics from becoming king or queen or holding certain other offices. While much of it has been repealed, particularly in the Roman Catholic Relief Act of 1829, some restrictions had remained.

Lady Elish, born in Glasgow with Irish heritage, was appointed as lord high commissioner to the 2025 General Assembly of the Church of Scotland in December last year.

Raised in Govan in an Irish Catholic family, she attended the Catholic Notre Dame school for girls in Glasgow. She later studied law at university, qualifying as a solicitor. She became Scotland’s first female lord advocate, serving in both Labour and SNP governments at Holyrood.

After leaving office in 2011, she became principal of St Hugh’s College, Oxford. More recently, she was appointed to chair the inquiry into the kidnap and murder of Sarah Everard.

Her new role will see her act as the King’s personal representative at the General Assembly, set to take place in May.

Pat McFadden, chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, said: “The Church of Scotland (Lord High Commissioner) Bill is a very simple, straightforward and clear piece of legislation. It seeks to do one simple thing: it removes a legal barrier that prevents Catholics from holding the office of the Lord High Commissioner to the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland.

“This historic legal restriction only applies to Catholics and doesn’t apply to people of other faiths, or indeed of no religious faith.”

Mr McFadden added: “This is a small step to remove a religious barrier. Without it, neither Lady Elish nor any other Catholic could take up this appointment by the sovereign. This bill changes that.”