Landowners are in the Chief Pleas automatically

Sark's government, the Chief Pleas, breaches the European Convention of Human Rights because landowners get a seat automatically.

The island wanted a slow implementation of any all-elected ruling body.

But Crown Dependencies Minister Michael Mills said the UK could be taken to court if the change was not quick.

Constitutional reforms

Currently owners of the island's 40 tenements (divisions of land) have an automatic seat in the Chief Pleas, and islanders chose 12 people's deputies.

But Sark needs to make constitutional reforms to comply with European human rights laws.

After much debate and under pressure to change, the Chief Pleas agreed to change its make-up in two stages over four years.

Twelve tenants would have guaranteed seats with the remaining being elected deputies.

A referendum in 2012 would then decide whether to go to a fully elected House.

But the UK's Lord Chancellor, Jack Straw, refused to recommend Royal Assent for the proposals.

In a visit to Sark last week, Michael Mills explained that it would be the UK that would be taken to the European Court of Human Rights should Sark breach the convention.