UK's deputy PM calls for separate Church and State

Days after British Prime Minister David Cameron courted criticism for describing UK as a "Christian country", his deputy has underlined the need to separate the state from the church.
"In the long run it would be better for the church and better for people of faith, and better for Anglicans, if the church and the state were to stand on their own two separate feet," Nick Clegg, Deputy Prime minister, said.
But Clegg, an atheist, defended Cameron's decision to describe Britain as a "Christian country", adding that "all faiths and none" were able to share values of "fair play and tolerance", The Independent reported.

Cameron's comments attracted criticism from 50 intellectuals, scientists, writers and humanists last week.
"I think our arrangements work well in this country. We are a Christian country, we have an established church," Cameron had said, adding that disestablishment was "a long term Liberal idea but it is not a Conservative one."
The disestablishment of the church would undo a constitutional settlement that has stood since Henry VIII rejected the authority of the Roman Catholic Church in 1534.
The Queen holds the title of Defender of the Faith and Supreme Governor of the Church of England.