Bishop of Winchester, the Rt Revd Michael Scott-Joynt, could become the next Archbishop of York. According to the Rt Revd John Yates, a retired bishop who lives at Harestock, he would be the ideal successor to Dr David Hope, who this week announced his intention to retire in 2006.

Bishop Michael is widely believed to have been the "number two" name sent to Prime Minister, Tony Blair, when Rowan Williams was announced as the new Archbishop of Canterbury in 2002.

The Rt Revd Yates, an honorary bishop in the Winchester diocese, said: "Getting the balance right between York and Canterbury in terms of theology and churchmanship is important.

"I have no doubt, in my mind, that Bishop Michael would be an ideal archbishop.

"He is a very senior bishop and has the confidence and respect of practically everyone in the Church, whether they agree with his views or not.

"He also has vast experience of how the Church of England works."

Both evangelicals, liberals and Anglo-Catholics will be keen to get "their man" into York.

The Bishop of Winchester, however, is seen as a safe pair of hands and an ideal compromise.

Bishop Michael trained for the ordained ministry at Cuddesdon, from where a number of liberal catholic scholars graduated, and he has risen through the ranks to become the third most senior bishop in the Church of England.

He is well-known for his traditional views on marriage, sex and the link between the Church and State.

Many clergy believe Bishop Michael could balance liberal agendas at Lambeth palace and, although not an evangelical, holds the confidence of many sections of the Church of England.

Stephen Adam, the Bishop of Winchester's lay assistant, said: "Bishop Michael will not be drawn into speculation of any kind regarding the vacancy at York." He also stressed that Bishop Michael's sabbatical, from September through to November-precisely when the church's selection process would be taking place-had been planned before Dr Hope's announcement.