Supporters of Bishop Bell have expressed delight at the archbishop's statement about Bishop Bell.

Marilyn Billingham said that his remaining family, and many who still hold his memory in the highest regard, were pleased and hoped that he will now be fondly remembered.

She said she hoped a previous decision to remove his name from a city building [4 Canon Lane -- Ed] would now be reversed.

Last Sunday, Remembrance Sunday, a young male asylum seeker ordered a taxi to take him to the Liverpool Women's Hospital. On arrival, as the taxi pulled up at the front door of the hospital, a bomb he was carrying went off too early. The taxi caught fire and he died in the ensuing conflagration.

What I say today that is new and should have been said sooner is this: I do not consider there to be a 'significant cloud' over Bishop George Bell's name.

Twenty-six active Church of England bishops sit as "Lords Spiritual" in the House of Lords, and the archbishop of Canterbury spoke of their "unanimity" against the assisted suicide bill. (Former archbishops also have seats and one former archbishop supported the bill.) The bishop of Durham, like his colleagues, warned that the terminally ill might think it their "dutiful option" to die.