YORK MP Hugh Bayley has backed a motion to inter the remains of Richard III in York Minster.

Following the announcement last week that the remains of a man buried under a carpark in Leicester were those of the Yorkist king, worldwide debate has been sparked over whether his final resting place should be in Leicester or York.

The Early Day Motion to formally request parliamentary debate has put forward by Bradford West MP George Galloway and states that as Richard had intended to be buried in a mausoleum at York Minster he “should be reburied in accordance with his last-known wishes”.

The motion was been signed by by four MPs, including Mr Bayley.

It says that Richard III was the last monarch of the House of York and grew up at Middleham Castle before stating: “In 1484 King Richard III initiated a college of 100 priests within the Minster of York on which work had started before his death... this was to have been a chantry dedicated to Our Lady, St George and St Ninian, to pray for his and his kindreds’ souls.

“King Richard III almost certainly intended to be buried in this mausoleum...the bones of King Richard III should be reburied in accordance with his last-known wishes and that in accordance with his wishes his remains should be interred in York Minster.”

But while a petition for the remains to be interred at York Minster had yesterday been signed by almost 20,000 people, a spokesman for the Minster said the cathedral believes his remains should stay in Leicester.

Council leaders across Yorkshire and the north-east have voiced their support that the remains should be brought to York.

Meanwhile, proposed designs have already been put forward by the Richard III Society for a tomb at Leicester Cathedral.

The design, which was was commissioned in September 2010, is for a rectangular magnesian limestone tomb costing about £28,000 to £30,000. It will feature a royal coat of arms inlaid in gold metal at the head, and a gold metal plaque and carved motto at the foot.

Magnesian limetone is the stone York Minster is built from and is intended to represent Richard III’s connections with York, a spokesman for the Richard III Society said.

Meanwhile, historian Chris Skidmore has called for Richard III to “lie in state” in York for three days before being buried in Leicester Cathedral.