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PM and Palace 'discussed reform' PM and Palace 'discussed reform'
(about 1 hour later)
Gordon Brown and Buckingham Palace have discussed plans to change the rules of succession to the throne, including giving royal women equal rights.Gordon Brown and Buckingham Palace have discussed plans to change the rules of succession to the throne, including giving royal 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.
Mr Brown said people expected discrimination to be removed and Tory leader David Cameron backed the reform.Mr Brown said people expected discrimination to be removed and Tory leader David Cameron backed the reform.
Meanwhile a BBC poll suggests public support for reform, with 80% wanting equal succession rights for women.Meanwhile a BBC poll suggests public support for reform, with 80% wanting equal succession rights for women.
A Private Members' Bill aimed at ending the discrimination was debated in the House of Commons on Friday but the government is not backing it. A Private Members' Bill aimed at ending the discrimination was killed off by the government on Friday, following a Commons debate.
But speaking during his visit to Brazil the prime minister said: "There are clearly issues about the exclusion of people from the rights of succession and there are clearly issues that have got to be dealt with. This is not an easy set of answers. Justice Secretary Jack Straw told MPs he was not ready to indicate a "precise timetable" for legislation to bring about change, but their "pressure" had made the issue a "higher priority for government than it has been".
'Spin' claim
He promised to ensure "soundings" were taken of the Commonwealth countries and to report the outcome of the debate to the prime minister.
Gordon Brown: 'This is a very complex issue'Gordon Brown: 'This is a very complex issue'
"But I think in the 21st Century people do expect discrimination to be removed and they do expect us to be looking at all these issues." But Lib Dem MP Evan Harris, who put forward the bill, accused Mr Straw of dealing a "serious blow" to the prospects of reform and said Mr Brown's apparent backing for change was just "spin".
Mr Cameron said: "The Queen is not just our Queen. She is the Queen of all the Commonwealth countries that have her as their head of state so this is not an easy change to make." Speaking after the debate, Mr Harris said: "Jack Straw was asked three times to provide either a timetable, a commitment to a Government Bill before the next election or any other tangible step towards this necessary and popular reform but said he couldn't provide any.
"The Liberal Democrats, with cross-party backbench allies, will seek every opportunity to keep this on the agenda."
Male precedenceMale precedence
Mr Harris's Royal Marriages and Succession to the Crown Bill would have ended the centuries-old ban on Catholics marrying the monarch and the rule of primogeniture, under which a woman in the line of succession is automatically superseded by a younger male sibling.
BBC POLL: THE PUBLIC SPEAKS Equal rights for royal women? - 89% yesHeir allowed to marry Catholic? - 81% yesBritish monarchy to continue? - 76% yes1,000 people polled by ICM Research, 20-22 March 2009 Why the monarchy discriminates Can we modernise tradition? Splitting heirs to the throne Send us your comments
Speaking earlier during his visit to Brazil the prime minister appeared to give his backing to changes.
He said: "There are clearly issues about the exclusion of people from the rights of succession and there are clearly issues that have got to be dealt with. This is not an easy set of answers.
"But I think in the 21st Century people do expect discrimination to be removed and they do expect us to be looking at all these issues."
David Cameron, giving his reaction to the debate, said: "The Queen is not just our Queen. She is the Queen of all the Commonwealth countries that have her as their head of state so this is not an easy change to make."
The rules of succession are laid down in the 1701 Act of Settlement.The rules of succession are laid down in the 1701 Act of Settlement.
BBC POLL: THE PUBLIC SPEAKS Equal rights for royal women? - 89% yesHeir allowed to marry Catholic? - 81% yesBritish monarchy to continue? - 76% yes1,000 people polled by ICM Research, 20-22 March 2009 Why the monarchy discriminates Can we modernise tradition? Send us your comments
It states heirs to the throne lose their right to be the sovereign if they marry a Catholic or convert.It states heirs to the throne lose their right to be the sovereign if they marry a Catholic or convert.
In addition, male heirs are given precedence.In addition, male heirs are given precedence.
HISTORICAL BASIS The 1701 Act of Settlement was designed to secure the Protestant succession to the throne The rules of primogeniture, Latin for first born, mean men come first and date back to feudal times Defending the faith, or prejudice?
If the Act was 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.If the Act was 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.
As things stand, Prince William cannot marry a Roman Catholic and become king.As things stand, Prince William cannot marry a Roman Catholic and become king.
And if he has a daughter she cannot be queen if she has a younger brother.And if he has a daughter she cannot be queen if she has a younger brother.
Prince Michael of Kent, the Queen's first cousin, is among a small number of royals who have renounced their place in the line of succession by marrying a Catholic.Prince Michael of Kent, the Queen's first cousin, is among a small number of royals who have renounced their place in the line of succession by marrying a Catholic.
Autumn Kelly, the Canadian wife of the Queen's grandson Peter Phillips, gave up her Catholic faith ahead of their 2008 wedding so her husband could retain his right to the throne.Autumn Kelly, the Canadian wife of the Queen's grandson Peter Phillips, gave up her Catholic faith ahead of their 2008 wedding so her husband could retain his right to the throne.
HISTORICAL BASIS The 1701 Act of Settlement was designed to secure the Protestant succession to the throne The rules of primogeniture, Latin for first born, mean men come first and date back to feudal times Defending the faith, or prejudice?
The BBC's royal correspondent Nicholas Witchell said Prince Charles and his officials were quietly thinking about the changes that should be made to the monarchy when he finally succeeds to the throne.The BBC's royal correspondent Nicholas Witchell said Prince Charles and his officials were quietly thinking about the changes that should be made to the monarchy when he finally succeeds to the throne.
He added that allowing heirs to the throne to marry Catholics "opened a can of ecclesiastical worms" for the Church of England, the official church of which the monarch is the Supreme Governor.
'In principle'
The reform bill has been introduced by Liberal Democrat MP Evan Harris.
READ THE FULL BILL Royal Marriages and Succession Bill [80KB] Most computers will open this document automatically, but you may need Adobe Reader Download the reader hereREAD THE FULL BILL Royal Marriages and Succession Bill [80KB] Most computers will open this document automatically, but you may need Adobe Reader Download the reader here
Sources at Number 10 have said while the government supports the "principles and objectives" of the bill, it would not support the bill itself. He added that allowing heirs to the throne to marry Catholics "opened a can of ecclesiastical worms" for the Church of England, the official church of which the monarch is the Supreme Governor.
Such reform would need the backing of the 15 other Commonwealth countries which have the British monarch as head of state. Reform would need the backing of the 15 other Commonwealth countries which have the British monarch as head of state. There is a major Commonwealth summit in November.
Downing Street confirmed the prime minister would raise the prospect of the major reforms at a Commonwealth summit in November, and that dialogue with Buckingham Palace was ongoing. Downing Street has, meanwhile, said dialogue with Buckingham Palace was ongoing.
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".
But Dr Harris told the BBC Radio 4's Today programme in comparison to other bills, which often require hundreds of statutory amendments, his was "not complicated".
"This is one of the smallest bills the government would ever have to put through," he said. "It is not rocket science."
'Sectarian history'
He said the principle of primogeniture, which gives male heirs priority over older female heirs, was common law and a simple clause in his bill would end discrimination against women.
To end the discrimination against Catholics would require nine Acts to be reviewed, of which four or five would need to be amended, he said.
He added constitutional experts had said there was a "moral obligation" to consult the Commonwealth countries but they did not have the power to veto.
"It is this country that has the sad history of sectarianism, not the Canadas or Australias of this world," he said.
He urged the government to support the bill to uphold their 1997 election pledge to end "unjustified discrimination wherever it existed".
His bill would not change the law preventing a Catholic from being the monarch.
Pressure group Republic said the bill "would change little" but welcomed the debate on the future of the monarchy.
"The reforms do not even do what Evan Harris says they do. The monarch would still not be allowed to be Catholic, so the discrimination is still there," said spokesman Graham Smith.
The BBC poll, conducted by ICM Research, suggests four out of five people want to give women equal rights of succession and remove the ban on the heir marrying a Roman Catholic.The BBC poll, conducted by ICM Research, suggests four out of five people want to give women equal rights of succession and remove the ban on the heir marrying a Roman Catholic.
Some 89% of the 1,000 people questioned believed male and female heirs should have equal rights to succeed to the throne.Some 89% of the 1,000 people questioned believed male and female heirs should have equal rights to succeed to the throne.
Some 81% believed that an heir to the throne should be allowed to marry a Roman Catholic and still become monarch.Some 81% believed that an heir to the throne should be allowed to marry a Roman Catholic and still become monarch.
According to the poll, 76% said the monarchy should continue after the Queen, against 18% who said they would favour Britain becoming a republic. An additional 6% said they did not know.According to the poll, 76% said the monarchy should continue after the Queen, against 18% who said they would favour Britain becoming a republic. An additional 6% said they did not know.