Brown's latest ploy...

The subject of constitutional reform, of the monarchy, has been raised again in a private member's bill. G.Brown has indicated interest, either to curry favour with Roman Catholics whom he has disturbed by policies on abortion, marriage and contraception, etc., or else to create his legacy before he leaves office.

The implications of some of the proposals, such as eldest child of whichever sex becoming monarch, do not present great problems. The present Queen is the sixth, of England, since and including "Bloody Mary", who has ruled by descent in her own right.

The other, to remove the bar facing Roman Catholics who wish to marry into the Royal family, needs much more time to work out the implications, not least its implications for the establishment of the Church of England. At this stage in a parliament it must seem a little late to begin on this process, knowing that after the election there could be a considerable change in the make up of the Commons.

As a non-Anglican Christian I understand any grievance the Romans may feel, but we have had so much half-baked and unfinished constitutional reform over the past 12 years that we really must not do this in haste, but calmly and considering all the implications.