Plan to abolish male succession law

The law that forces the daughter of a monarch to make way for her younger brother will be abolished, it has been revealed.

Ministers are expected to use new equality legislation to guarantee women's succession rights, superseding the provisions in the 1701 Act of Settlement.

Solicitor General Vera Baird, who will help steer the new law through Parliament, said the current arrangements are "unfair" and "a load of rubbish".

"I have always thought that what we have to do with the Royal Family is integrate them as far as possible into the human race," she told the Sunday Times.

Ms Baird also wants to repeal the law banning the heir to the throne from marrying a Catholic.

"The ban on Catholics should be abolished, too, because that is discriminatory," she added.

The Single Equality Bill will unify existing laws on sex discrimination, age, race, disability, sexual orientation and religion. A draft is due to be published later this year.