Parties debate bill of rights promised in queen’s speech

Britain’s Conservative government has retreated from a controversial manifesto pledge to scrap the Human Rights Act and promised that a new British Bill of rights will be based on rights set out in the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR).

Yesterday’s queen’s speech, which sets out the government’s plans for the next parliamentary session, repeated a promise from last year to introduce a British Bill of rights.

The government’s official documentation on this year’s speech, however, dropped a reference to the new Bill of rights replacing the 1998 Human Rights Act, which incorporated into UK law the rights contained in the ECHR. This year’s note instead states that the new Bill of rights will reform the UK’s human rights framework.

“These rights would be based on those set out in the European Convention on Human Rights, while also taking into account our common law tradition,” the government notes say.

Good news

Liberal Democrat leader

Tim Farron

said he believed the change in the wording was significant and represented good news for those who want to preserve the Human Rights Act and Britain’s commitment to the ECHR.

“I hope that this is the start of a climbdown from the government on their previous plans to scrap the Human Rights Act. Liberal Democrats blocked Tory attempts to scrap the Act in government and are leading the fight to save the Human Rights Act. I am clear this is one of the most important pieces of legislation to protect the interests of British citizens. Liberal Democrats will work with people in all parties to make sure that these rights are not undermined or diluted,” he said.

While human rights campaigners welcomed the apparent retreat on the Human Rights Act, they expressed concern over proposed legislation to tackle extremism and hate speech. It would give the government enhanced powers to intervene in schools and prevent extremists from working with children.

Successful

David Cameron

said Britain could be proud of the fact that it is one of the most successful multi-racial, multi-faith democracies anywhere on earth.

“But we must also recognise that extremists – both violent and non-violent – are trying to drive our country apart. So this queen’s speech stands up for our liberal values by taking on the extremists with new powers to disrupt their activities, while protecting young people in unregulated schools from those who preach a message of intolerance and separatism,” he said.

Mr Cameron claimed that the 20 Bills set out in the speech, which include new rules to make adoption easier and measures to streamline housebuilding, were aimed at expanding opportunity and enhancing life chances for everyone. A major reform of the prison system will offer prisoners greater access to education, including bespoke in-cell courses, and will allow some inmates to live outside prison, electronically tagged, for part of the week.

Rhetoric

Labour

leader

Jeremy Corbyn

said his party welcomed prison reform but he dismissed the prime minister’s rhetoric on expanding opportunity, arguing that spending cuts and the increased cost of higher education were having the opposite effect on millions of people in Britain.

“When you saddle young people with more debt you impede their ability to get into housing. When you slash the budget of local authorities, leisure centres close, libraries close. This austerity is a political choice, not an economic necessity. It is a wrong choice for our country. Women have been hit hardest by these cuts. Over 80 per cent of cuts fall disproportionately on women. This government is failing to deliver an economy that meets the needs and aspirations of the people that sent us here,” he said.