Mr Brown will break with tradition by setting out his draft Parliamentary programme before the Queen's Speech.

His spokesman has denied Tory claims his plans for building thousands of new homes would destroy the green belt.

The consultation document Mr Brown will put before MPs will include plans for wide ranging constitutional reform.

On Wednesday afternoon Mr Brown will set out his priorities for the next year and a list of bills and draft bills he is thinking of introducing in the next Parliament.

Measures which might be put forward include a Schools Bill to raise the school leaving age to 18, a Climate Change Bill and legislative proposals from the recent Energy and Planning White Papers.