Tony Blair could include a euro referendum bill in the Queen's Speech if he wanted to end uncertainty over the government's stance on the single currency, Charles Kennedy has claimed.

Unveiling his party's wish-list for what should be announced next week, the Lib Dem leader claimed the prime minister was being held back by political considerations.

"The politics of this is getting in the way of the practicalities. If they introduced a bill for a referendum to take place that can be triggered fairly quickly," he said.

"If Gordon Brown was so minded, he could literally stand up on Monday and say 'the five tests have been met and the government can introduce a bill for second reading on Tuesday. I don't think it will happen but it could be done."

Kennedy said the chancellor's five economic tests were being used as "subterfuge".

He said that the government had both the political will and parliamentary majority to do have a referendum bill before the Commons by Christmas ready for a campaign within the next 10 months.

"The sand glass is rather running away from us on this. I don't think we should get over hung up about either the famous five economic tests or this whole issue of treasury assessment," he said.

Kennedy unveiled 37 key areas in which his party wanted to see legislation - including measures to decentralise government, end top-up fees in higher education and reforms to housing law.

The decentralisation bill would call for regional assemblies in England to be set up to take control of development agencies and the NHS executives. As part of the bill the poll tax would be replaced with a local income tax which the party hopes would end the decline in voting in local elections.

Also among the measures was a criminal justice bill that build a system of "restorative justice" where offenders would be forced to face their victims. The legislation would widen aggravated sentences to all hate crimes, not just racially-motivated incidents.

Kennedy called for government bills to cut anti-social behaviour and protect state pensions for the elderly.

"These are considered measures which will make a real difference to people's lives," he said.

"They are a constructive programme for change which would guarantee top quality healthcare, education and security for the elderly and frail - for everybody, regardless of their ability to pay."

Joined by Mark Oaten, the chairman of the parliamentary party, he made further capital out of the Conservative Party's difficulties.

Kennedy described the Conservatives as being a "distraction" in Westminster and accused them of shouting at each other rather than listening to the public.