‘Thumbs down’ for princesses

Press, 9 March 1982, Page 12

‘Thumbs down’ for princesses

NZPA staff correspondent ’■'• . '• London Britain’s Lord Privy Seal, Mr Humphrey Atkins, has given a firm “thumbs down” to a Labour backbencher’sbill which would give princesses , equal, rights With princes in the succession the throne. “That bill is not going to get anywhere,” he said. It was the first.,.time the. Government’s position on the bill had been spelled out by a senior Minister, Introduced by a Labour member of. Parliament, ' Mr MichaelEnglish, Hie bill would allow, arraigning monarch’s first- , bom female,, to succeed to the Throne even if she had a younger brother. If Mr English’s bill became law, it would mean that if the Prince and Princess of Wales had a girl in June she would be ahead of any subsequent brothers, in the line of succession. But‘if the law remains ias it is, a younger brother would succeed to the Throne ahead of ■ his older sister. Mr English’s bill ran into trouble when it came up for a second reading in the

; House of Commons. Objections from some Government • members blocked it getting a. second reading- without a debate and there was no time for debate" before the week-end adjournment. - Mr Atkins,.; the. deputy Foreign Secretary and chief' , Government spokesman ori 1 Foreign Affairs in the House. . "of Commons, -said that the .question ■ of succession to the Throne affected all the. Com-, monwealth countries volved.. ' ’’ It had been believed that no action would be taken to .alter the position of the , Crown without consultation . between the Commonwealth . countries. ; . * “It is perfectly clear,” said Mr Atkins, “that it would be quite wrong for the British Parliament to take any action unilaterajly which might upset this relationship.” In the past, any action involving the position of the Crown had been . preceded by discussions, with • the Commonwealth" governments concerned. “We’have no intention of initiating suchdiscussions,” said Mr Atkins' The Government did not want to stop

the bill being debated and Mr English should be given the opportunity of explaining why he thought it was a good idea. “But to take a step like’ this unilaterally by the British Parliament would be not only most, unusual but it would be extremely damaging to the Commonwealth,” said Mr Atkins. “I do not think there is any danger that the bill will be passed." . " . ? . But Mr English says he has the support of Conservative, Labour, Liberal and Social Democrat members for his bill; which he says is in. line with the United Nations convention -ori' the elimination of discrimination against women. The convention, which has been signed by Britain and New' Zealand, requires governments to repeal or amend laws which discriminate against women. The New Zealand Prime Minister (Mr Muldoon) has said his Government would wait for a formal request from the British Government before it took any stance on giving princesses equality with their brothers.