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| Referendum on rights 'inevitable' | Referendum on rights 'inevitable' |
| (40 minutes later) | |
| A referendum would be "inevitable" if an overhaul of Britain's constitution goes ahead, a minister has said. | A referendum would be "inevitable" if an overhaul of Britain's constitution goes ahead, a minister has said. |
| Justice minister Michael Wills said any "fundamental alteration in the powers of Parliament" was likely to make a vote by the public necessary. | Justice minister Michael Wills said any "fundamental alteration in the powers of Parliament" was likely to make a vote by the public necessary. |
| He spoke after plans were outlined for a Bill of Rights and Duties or a possible written constitution. | |
| The Tories called Mr Wills' comments "extraordinary" in the light of a vote on the EU treaty being ruled out. | |
| 'Profound' | |
| Mr Wills, speaking after the various proposals were outlined in Parliament, said: "These changes are going to be profound... This is going to change fundamentally the way power is distributed in this country." | |
| How fast we drive it depends on the appetite the British people have Michael WillsJustice Minister | How fast we drive it depends on the appetite the British people have Michael WillsJustice Minister |
| The government is putting out to consultation a wide range of suggestions - including changing the way judges are appointed and giving Parliament the final say on going to war. | |
| Asked if eventual reforms including the Bill of Rights and a written constitution would make a referendum necessary, Mr Wills replied: "I think it would be inevitable." | Asked if eventual reforms including the Bill of Rights and a written constitution would make a referendum necessary, Mr Wills replied: "I think it would be inevitable." |
| Such changes would be "profound", adding: "How fast we drive it depends on the appetite the British people have." | Such changes would be "profound", adding: "How fast we drive it depends on the appetite the British people have." |
| Mr Wills' comments come as the government has said there is no need for a referendum on the European reform treaty. | Mr Wills' comments come as the government has said there is no need for a referendum on the European reform treaty. |
| The Tories say the EU treaty brings with it fundamental constitutional change, but ministers argue that this is not the case. | |
| 'Reneged' | |
| Mr Brown says that the EU treaty is the latest in a series of amending treaties on which Parliament has always had the final say. | |
| The government had promised a referendum on the now axed EU constitution, on the basis that it would have had implications for the UK's constitution. | The government had promised a referendum on the now axed EU constitution, on the basis that it would have had implications for the UK's constitution. |
| Following Mr Wills' comments, shadow justice secretary Nick Herbert said: "This is extraordinary given that the government has spent the last month arguing against giving the people a say over such matters. | |
| "No one will believe a government minister who promises a referendum when they have reneged on a manifesto promise to hold a referendum on the EU constitution." |