Conservatives to push forward on manifesto and scrap Human Rights Act

[TomandJerry]

"David Cameron is to move fast to capitalise on his general election victory by introducing key elements in the Tory manifesto for an EU referendum and the scrapping of the Human Rights Act that will be overseen by Michael Gove.

As Labour is distracted by contests for the leadership and deputy leadership of the party, the prime minister will outline plans for a raft of legislation in the Queen’s speech on 27 May that will transform the nature of British politics.

The prime minister, who has a modest majority, will move to entrench the Tories’ position by pressing ahead with radical boundary changes to overcome what is seen as a bias in favour of Labour. But Downing Street is to scrap plans to cut the number of MPs from 650 to 600, according to the Sunday Times."


The Act sets out the fundamental rights and freedoms that individuals in the UK have access to. They include:

Right to life
Freedom from torture and inhuman or degrading treatment
Right to liberty and security
Freedom from slavery and forced labour
Right to a fair trial
No punishment without law
Respect for your private and family life, home and correspondence
Freedom of thought, belief and religion
Freedom of expression
Freedom of assembly and association
Right to marry and start a family
Protection from discrimination in respect of these rights and freedoms
Right to peaceful enjoyment of your property
Right to education
Right to participate in free elections

 

[BensGrandad]

He will need to act quickly because of the number of elderly Tory MPs and possible death. and losing their seat in a another by election.

 

[vegster]

I thought be was already busy getting rid of the defecit .....? Still he has to move fast as he is retiring in 5 years. Hope he has time to put a little cash aside for that.

 

[Brovion]

"David Cameron is to move fast to capitalise on his general election victory by introducing key elements in the Tory manifesto for an EU referendum and the scrapping of the Human Rights Act that will be overseen by Michael Gove.

As Labour is distracted by contests for the leadership and deputy leadership of the party, the prime minister will outline plans for a raft of legislation in the Queen’s speech on 27 May that will transform the nature of British politics.

The prime minister, who has a modest majority, will move to entrench the Tories’ position by pressing ahead with radical boundary changes to overcome what is seen as a bias in favour of Labour. But Downing Street is to scrap plans to cut the number of MPs from 650 to 600, according to the Sunday Times."


The Act sets out the fundamental rights and freedoms that individuals in the UK have access to. They include:

Right to life
Freedom from torture and inhuman or degrading treatment
Right to liberty and security
Freedom from slavery and forced labour
Right to a fair trial
No punishment without law
Respect for your private and family life, home and correspondence
Freedom of thought, belief and religion
Freedom of expression
Freedom of assembly and association
Right to marry and start a family
Protection from discrimination in respect of these rights and freedoms
Right to peaceful enjoyment of your property
Right to education
Right to participate in free elections
Further information

I think it's a bit disingenuous to imply that all those would disappear if the Human Rights act was abolished.

 

[TomandJerry]

I think it's a bit disingenuous to imply that all those would disappear if the Human Rights act was abolished.

What would happen if the Act was scrapped then?

 

[El Presidente]

I think it's a bit disingenuous to imply that all those would disappear if the Human Rights act was abolished.

Which elements would you like to see scrapped?

 

[Dan Aitch]

Those rights will, as many currently are, become subject to different qualification if the HRA goes - e.g. the right to privacy is not an absolute right if law enforcement organisations suspect you of committing serious crime.

I expect that in the future, any legislation that allows qualified rights (rather than 'absolute' rights - e.g. right to a fair trial) may allow a less exacting level of qualification.

This will most likely impact on areas of current debate - i.e. the respect for family life may no longer prevent you from being removed from the country, whether you have a family life in Britain or not, if you've committed serious crimes.

At least, that's how I understand it.

 

[seagullsovergrimsby]

In conjunction with scrapping the Human Rights Act they will also introduce the Draft Communications Data Bill (aka The Snoopers' Charter) which was blocked by the LibDems whilst in coalition.

 

[Rookie]

What would happen if the Act was scrapped then?

We would still be a signatory to the European convention on human rights. The human rights act is a badly drafted piece of legislation.

 

[beorhthelm]

What would happen if the Act was scrapped then?

its replaced by a Bill of Rights. Grauniad doesnt mention that detail though.

 

[Spicy]

It should protect the rights of all of us but has been used against us for too long. Do we not all expect to be fairly treated without having an Act of Parliament?

 

[seagullsovergrimsby]

its replaced by a Bill of Rights. Grauniad doesnt mention that detail though.

I wonder if it will contain Right to hunt foxes/game with hounds

 

[PILTDOWN MAN]

I wonder if it will contain Right to hunt foxes/game with hounds

What a damned good idea. I'll email Dave right away.

 

[Prince Monolulu]

 

[seagullsovergrimsby]

What a damned good idea. I'll email Dave right away.

He is all set to repeal the 2004 Hunting Act as a thank you gesture to his chums in the countryside. Lets hope there isn't a typo in the Bill of Rights which allows gamekeepers to shoot peasants from 1st October to 1st February.

 

[sahel]

It should protect the rights of all of us but has been used against us for too long. Do we not all expect to be fairly treated without having an Act of Parliament?

So how exactly has the HRA been used against you?

 

[GreersElbow]

Freedom from torture and inhuman or degrading treatment The previous government knew they were sending British citizens to Guantanamo Bay, the government did not protect them from this fundamental right
Right to a fair trial Secret trials have been happening for a few years now, often under the guise of 'national security'
Respect for your private and family life, home and correspondence Yet, you have been spied on for decade or longer because of anti-terror laws
Freedom of expression Conviction for comments made on social media are becoming more and more regular
Right to marry and start a family gay marriage was only legalised in the last few years

Reality is, this is nothing more than a prop-up law by government. You honestly think a government will really look out for your rights? The reality is, the government controls the courts etc through non-immediate means, any battle to defend your rights are a lengthy, drawn out battle with the court system. The government is not looking out for you.

The Tories are getting rid of it for ideological reasons, but let's be objective here; governments of both Labour and Tory had been violating them. So what use are they anyway when they've done so with high disregard and poor excuses?

 

[sahel]

Freedom from torture and inhuman or degrading treatment The previous government knew they were sending British citizens to Guantanamo Bay, the government did not protect them from this fundamental right
Right to a fair trial Secret trials have been happening for a few years now, often under the guise of 'national security'
Respect for your private and family life, home and correspondence Yet, you have been spied on for decade or longer because of anti-terror laws
Freedom of expression Conviction for comments made on social media are becoming more and more regular
Right to marry and start a family gay marriage was only legalised in the last few years

Reality is, this is nothing more than a prop-up law by government. You honestly think a government will really look out for your rights? The reality is, the government controls the courts etc through non-immediate means, any battle to defend your rights are a lengthy, drawn out battle with the court system. The government is not looking out for you.

The Tories are getting rid of it for ideological reasons, but let's be objective here; governments of both Labour and Tory had been violating them. So what use are they anyway when they've done so with high disregard and poor excuses?

I don't understand the point you are making. The HRA does not allow the government do these things. It gives people recourse to the law to stop them. And by signing the European Convention we give a European court the right to protect us as well. So how can we better off without it?

 

[TomandJerry]

We would still be a signatory to the European convention on human rights. The human rights act is a badly drafted piece of legislation.

But when we vote to withdraw from the EU...

 

[Ernest]

It doesn't matter as someone can simply go to the ECHR and unless we 're not in the EU anymore nothing has changed