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| Version 0 | Version 1 |
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| PM and Palace 'discussed reform' | PM and Palace 'discussed reform' |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| Gordon Brown and Buckingham Palace have discussed plans to change the rules of succession to the throne, including giving women equal rights. | Gordon Brown and Buckingham Palace have discussed plans to change the rules of succession to the throne, including giving women equal rights. |
| Downing Street said the scrapping of the ban on heirs to the throne marrying Roman Catholics was also discussed. | Downing Street said the scrapping of the ban on heirs to the throne marrying Roman Catholics was also discussed. |
| The prime minister was said to be ready to raise the major reforms at a Commonwealth summit in November. | The prime minister was said to be ready to raise the major reforms at a Commonwealth summit in November. |
| A Private Members' Bill aimed at ending discrimination against women and Roman Catholics is due to be debated by MPs. | A Private Members' Bill aimed at ending discrimination against women and Roman Catholics is due to be debated by MPs. |
| The legislation has been introduced by Liberal Democrat MP Evan Harris, to end the "uniquely discriminatory" rules, which were laid down in the 1701 Act of Settlement. | |
| To bring about changes to the law on succession would be a complex undertaking Ministry of Justice | |
| Dr Harris has cross-party support for his proposals, but a Ministry of Justice spokesman said while the government "stood firmly against discrimination" there were no immediate plans to legislate because the changes required were "complex". | |
| The Act states that heirs to the throne lose their right to be the sovereign if they marry a Catholic or convert. | |
| If it was also changed to give royal daughters equal rights Princess Anne would become fourth in line, behind Prince Harry. Currently she comes after the Duke of York and the Earl of Wessex, and their children. | |
| Commonwealth consent | |
| Dr Harris's Royal Marriages and Succession to the Crown (Prevention of Discrimination) Bill is co-sponsored by Catholic parliamentarians such as Tory MP Edward Leigh, Labour's Andrew Mackinlay and John Grogan and fellow Lib Dem John Pugh. | |
| Asked if it would support the backbench legislation, a Ministry of Justice spokeswoman said: "The government has always stood firmly against discrimination in all its forms, including against Roman Catholics, and we will continue to do so. | |
| "To bring about changes to the law on succession would be a complex undertaking involving amendment or repeal of a number of items of related legislation, as well as requiring the consent of legislatures of member nations of the Commonwealth. | |
| "We are examining this complex area although there are no immediate plans to legislate." |