The new single human rights watchdog must put the rights of disabled people centre stage, a top commissioner has warned.

Speaking to ePolitix.com, the chairman of the Disability Rights Commission warned it would be "tragic" if the new Commission for Equality and Human Rights was not given enough powers to have an impact.

Bert Massie urged ministers to reconsider key parts of their proposals to take into account the needs of disabled people.

"With the creation of the CEHR the government has the opportunity to create a solid legislative framework for creating a truly inclusive society in which all people can avoid the millstone of discrimination," he said.

"It would be tragic if the opportunity to do so much good was wasted by denying the CEHR the powers and structures to enable it to do the job for which it will be created."

Massie warned the government could "turn the clock back decades" for disabled people if the new commissioner was not given enough support.

"Moving the deckchairs on the Titanic was pointless. Had the captain changed course the disaster could have been avoided. There is still time for the government to change course and avoid the icebergs ahead," he said.

"I hope I am not being over cynical, but it seems to me that this means the new body will be able to talk about human rights but will lack the powers to enforce them. This is unacceptable."

He was also critical of the reluctance by ministers to overhaul Britain's discrimination laws as part of the changes.

"It is disappointing that the government has been less than enthusiastic about introducing a single equality act similar to that introduced by Lord Lester in the Upper House," he said.

Massie also called for the government to meet its manifesto commitment and include a Disability Bill in the Queen's Speech.

"We were desperately disappointed that our expectations of a Disability Bill in the last session of parliament were unfulfilled," Massie said.

"Obviously I want it to be in this year's Queen's Speech because we will be one year closer to ending the terrible discrimination faced by disabled people."