Newcastle North MP, Catherine McKinnell, has hit out at the Government’s continued failure to clarify its plans for scrapping the Human Rights Act, despite repeated commitments to do so.
Speaking during questions to Justice Ministers in the House of Commons this morning (14th June), Catherine asked:
‘Plans to repeal the Human Rights Act were announced in the Conservatives’ manifestos in both 2010 and 2015; and in the Queen’s Speech in 2015, and in 2016.
‘So, could the Minister please explain why his Department has so far failed to publish any proposals or begin a consultation on these plans?’
Commenting afterwards, Catherine said:
‘The Human Rights Act protects basic rights such as the right to a fair trial, the right to life, and the right to privacy.
‘This legislation has also helped give some of our most vulnerable citizens, including disabled people and victims of crime, a powerful means of redress – and remains a crucial check against unaccountable state power and vested interests.
‘Yet, despite repeated pledges to repeal it over a number of years, the Government is still no clearer about when this will take place and – most importantly – about exactly which rights it thinks UK citizens should lose as a result.
‘To continue to promise, as the Minister did today, that their plans will be published ‘in due course’ is just not good enough, as British people deserve certainty on this issue.’