British Airways has made a spectacular U-turn today, announcing that its uniform policy will change to allow all religious symbols, including crosses, to be worn openly by its staff.
Immediately upon the announcement being made, the head of the Church of England, the Archbishop of Canterbury, Rev Dr Rowan Williams said: "I am grateful that BA have listened to the deep concerns that have been expressed about this issue and that their change of policy now allows Christians to wear crosses openly."Important issues have been raised. This is a positive and constructive outcome."
Dr Williams had previously said that the Church of England, an investor in BA, would "rethink its whole attitude" towards the airline.
The second-most senior member of the Church of England, the Archbishop of York, Dr John Sentamu exhorted: "Praise the Lord!"
Dr Sentamu had previously said that BA was forgetting the values of the nation it was representing. However, today he declared that the airline had "finally shown both grace and magnanimity".
The announcement from BA follows a huge furore last year over the story of one check-in worker at Heathrow Airport who was banned from wearing her cross necklace "visibly" whilst at work as it "might offend" people.
