CRE commissioners voted against backing a single equalities body

At a meeting on Wednesday CRE commissioners voted to "unequivocally reject" proposals in a white paper published by the government in May.

CRE chair Trevor Phillips said the plan was "the wrong proposal at the wrong time".

But the CRE wanted to remain engaged in the debate on the best way forward for equality, Mr Phillips added.

'Bad deal for race'

In its white paper, Fairness for All, the government said it wanted to strengthen the powers of the existing equalities bodies - the Commission for Racial Equality, the Disability Rights Commission and the Equal Opportunities Commission.

It said the new body, to be known as the Commission for Equality and Human Rights (CEHR) would, for the first time, provide institutional support for human rights.

Establishing the CEHR is an important part of our vision for a more cohesive society Home Secretary David Blunkett

However, some pressure groups have been campaigning against the proposal, claiming a merged body would have diluted powers.

Black-led human rights organisation the 1990 Trust, which has been critical of the plan, welcomed the CRE's decision.

Chief executive Karen Chouhan said the CEHR would be "a bad deal for race".

"The government cannot now move forward without the support of the CRE, black communities and an increasing number of black parliamentarians," Ms Chouhan said.

'Committed'

Consultation on the CEHR is being overseen by the Department of Trade and Industry.

Secretary of State for Trade and Industry Patricia Hewitt told the BBC in spite of the CRE's objections, they would continue to back the plan for a single body.

"We are fully committed to the creation of a Single Equality and Human Rights Commission which we believe will help create a more equal and cohesive society, " Ms Hewitt said.

Home Secretary David Blunkett also threw his weight behind the plan, saying: "Establishing the CEHR is an important part of our vision for a more cohesive society".

The government would continue to work closely with the CRE to address the organisation's concerns, he added.

Both the other equality bodies involved in a possible merger welcomed the proposal for a single organisation when the white paper was published.