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Proceeding contribution from Andrew Mackinlay (Labour) in the House of Commons on Friday, 27 March 2009. It occurred during Debate on bill on Royal Marriages and Succession to the Crown (Prevention of Discrimination) Bill.


Royal Marriages and Succession to the Crown (Prevention of Discrimination) Bill

What I wanted to show is that there is no lack of will on this issue; everyone agrees that the current position is wrong. The people who could make the proposal more likely to be enacted are like rabbits trapped in the headlights of a car, because if they move on this, they will open up a whole range of issues. Certainly, the former Conservative Prime Minister of Australia, John Howard, a very enthusiastic monarchist, did not want these issues raised because that would detract from his enthusiasm for having the monarchy in Australia. There are problems about how this is dealt with. However, the Prime Minister needs to prove me wrong. I hope that on the margins of the Commonwealth Heads of Government meeting he will raise it with these states, and in the meantime support the Bill. We can have this legislation in place to be triggered if and when there is agreement among the Governments and legislatures of the other countries.


Secondary information

Type
Proceeding contribution
Reference
490 c570-1 
Session
2008-09
Chamber / Committee
House of Commons chamber
Subjects
Commonwealth Church of England Catholicism Church and state Women Equality Discrimination Marriage Monarchy Religion Succession Religious freedom Royal family
Legislation
Royal Marriages and Succession to the Crown (Prevention of Discrimination) Bill 2008-09
Link
View this Proceeding contribution on www.publications.parliament.uk