Contrary to reports in the London broadsheets on Wednesday, Downing Street has denied that Prime Minister Gordon Brown has plans to abrogate the Act of Settlement, and institute new succession laws that would have for members of the Royal Family to marry Roman Catholics, and remain in the succession, and for women to have equal rights of succession. At this time, the succession to the British throne is based on male primogeniture, sons before daughters, brothers before sisters. Male primogeniture is based on tradition, and not by an Act of Parliament.
The Act of Settlement, which was promulgated in 1701, defines the succession to the Protestant descendants of the Electress Sophia of Hannover.
The spokesman said that the succession laws (which would have to approved by several other countries, where the British sovereign is also the sovereign of their country) might be brought up, and "discussed on the fringes" at the upcoming Commonwealth meeting in Trinidad.
There are no present plans to introduce legislation in Parliament regarding the succession to the throne.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/politics/8379528.stm
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