Kevin McNamara

A bill repealing the 300-year-old law banning Catholics from succession to the throne has been published by Labour MP Kevin McNamara.

The backbencher's 10 minute rule bill would repeal sections of the 300 year old Act of Settlement which bans Catholics from the line of succession to the throne and would also abolish the 1848 Treason Felony Act, which makes it a criminal offence to advocate the abolition of the monarchy.

"MPs from all sides of the House have strong feelings on this issue and further progress of my bill will allow us to scrap these outdated pieces of legislation that conflict with our international human rights obligations," said McNamara.

However, the government has indicated that attempts to reform what the prime minister has agreed is a "plainly discriminatory" measure would be complex and difficult, also involving the consent of other Commonwealth countries.

But the Hull North MP urged the government to reconsider its position.

"The publication of my two-page bill indicates that such reform would be relatively straight forward. In light of this, I hope that the government will think again," he said.

The draft bill removes from the Act of Settlement the words "that whosoever shall hereafter come to the possession of this crown shall joyn in communion with the Church of England as by law established".

And the bill says that words which "support, propose or advocate the establishment by peaceful means of a system of government in the United Kingdom in which Her Majesty or any of her heirs or successors cease to enjoy, or exercise as monarch, any political or personal power" should no longer be deemed an offence.

The proposals would also allow MPs and peers to take their oath of office without pledging allegiance to the monarch, with elected parliamentarians instead pledging to "faithfully serve those whom I represent here".