Here is LGCM’s response to the proposed scrapping of the Human Rights Act and its replacement with a UK Bill of Rights:
Introducing a UK Bill of Rights would be likely to undermine the existing protection afforded by the European Convention on Human Rights and the Human Rights Act 1998. At the least, it could cause confusion about the applicability in the UK of the rights and freedoms identified in the Convention, and create the impression that fundamental rights for which the UK has helped to win international recognition no longer carry the same weight. Instead, rights and freedoms might be seen as being within the gift of the UK government, so that successive governments could restrict or remove these.
For many Christians, human rights are of great importance, because of the belief that all persons are made in God’s image and precious, and that no state should be given absolute power over all aspects of human life. For many lesbian, gay, bisexual and trans (LGBT) people in the UK and elsewhere in Europe, the Convention and European Court of Human Rights have been important in advancing basic rights. The Human Rights Act has also played a part in advancing LGBT equality and the attachment to it of the full text of the Convention, thus incorporating it in our own law, is a vital guarantee of our freedoms and our common adherence to a code which stretches across all Europe.
Over the years a body of case law has built up, and understanding developed. It would be better to promote wider public knowledge of existing human rights laws and international standards, and support for people seeking to use these to protect their rights, than to bring in a new Bill of Rights. Human rights law has a valuable part to play in protecting the most vulnerable, from asylum-seekers who have been victims of torture to frail older people at risk of abuse.
Any moves that negatively affect or place in doubt existing human rights legislation applicable to the UK would also be likely to damage the UK government’s credibility in promoting human rights internationally. Many people experience throughout the world experience persecution on grounds of religion, sexuality or other factors. It is important to promote good practice through example as well as words.
