THE Archbishop of York has reiterated that he will not wear his dog collar again until Zimbabwean president Robert Mugabe is removed from office.

Dr John Sentamu famously took off the clerical collar and cut it up while appearing on the Andrew Marr Show in December 2007, saying he would not wear it again until Mugabe was gone.

He said in an article in The Times yesterday that he had not expected still to be collarless five years later, and he hoped he would be able to wear it again before long, but it would be best if this was because free and fair elections had peacefully removed Mugabe from office.

“I’m asked occasionally why I have forgotten to wear one - my answer remains that this corrupt and oppressive regime has been allowed to carry on for too long,” he wrote.

He said the British Government seemed to be considering easing some sanctions against Mugabe, but he was not convinced it was time to weaken international opposition to his irresponsible, undemocratic, lawless and at times brutal regime. “We cannot allow Mr Mugabe off the hook.”