Justice secretary Liz Truss confirmed proposals to replace the Act with a British Bill of Rights
UK government plans to scrap the Human Rights Act have been condemned by campaigners and politicians.
Justice secretary Liz Truss confirmed on Monday that the Conservatives would deliver on their promise to ditch the legislation and replace it with a British bill of rights.
She told BBC Radio 4's Today programme: "We are committed to that. It is a manifesto pledge.
“We are looking very closely at the details but we have a manifesto pledge to deliver that."
The bill, which was passed with cross-party support in 1998, incorporates into UK law the articles contained in the 1950 European Convention on Human Rights.
It ensures British courts take account of “fundamental freedoms” such as the right to a fair trial, the right to freedom of expression and the right to liberty and security.
In the current climate, our new justice secretary should focus on providing unifying leadership – not pouring her energy, and yet more public money, into scrapping human rights and equality protections that are needed now more than ever
Prime Minister Theresa May is a long-time critic of the Act, telling Tory delegates in 2011 that it “needs to go”.
In a speech on the EU earlier this year, she said: “We can protect human rights ourselves in a way that doesn’t jeopardise national security or bind the hands of parliament.”
The Tories have yet to give details on how their proposed British Bill of Rights would differ from the Act but a spokesman said a full consultation would be held before any announcement.
The move has been heavily criticised by human rights groups and campaigners.
Bella Sankey, policy director for Liberty, said: “Surely it can’t have escaped the lord chancellor’s attention that our country has seen a spike in hate and division in recent months.
“Just days ago, the Equality and Human Rights Commission laid bare the scale and challenge of racial inequality in Britain – and only today Transport Police have reported a leap in racist abuse and attacks.
“In the current climate, our new justice secretary should focus on providing unifying leadership – not pouring her energy, and yet more public money, into scrapping human rights and equality protections that are needed now more than ever.”
Amnesty said more than 115,000 people have signed up to its campaign to save the Act.
Naomi McAuliffe, the charity’s Scotland programme director, said: “We had hoped that the change in UK Government would give us an opportunity to safeguard the Human Rights Act.
“However, Liz Truss' insistence plans to scrap the Act are still on the agenda is disappointing – to say the least. No government should have the power to turn universal freedoms into privileges for a chosen few.”
The Scottish Government has repeatedly stated it will oppose any moves to scrap the Act.
A spokeswoman said: “The Scottish Government values the Human Rights Act. It is a proportionate, pragmatic and progressive way of ensuring that the protections of the European Convention of Human Rights can be taken into account by UK courts.
“These protections are essential to any civilised society. That is why we have argued strongly against the repeal of the Act, in Scotland and across the whole of the UK, and will continue our opposition."
