Falconer slams Tory plans to repeal Human Rights Act

Shadow Justice Secretary Lord Falconer has today slammed the Tories’ plans to scrap the Human Rights Act (HRA), on the 15th anniversary of Labour introducing it as law.

Justice Secretary Michael Gove is expected to present plans to replace the HRA with a British Bill of Rights in the coming months, but Labour are determined to block the move. Repealing the HRA was in the Conservatives’ manifesto, but Falconer says that going through with it would be a “disastrous” backwards step.

“The Human Rights Act is one of Labour’s proudest achievements,” Falconer said. “From protecting victims of crime to making sure public bodies take people’s rights into account when making decisions, its impact has been enormous.

“Repealing the Human Rights Act and walking away from the European Convention on Human Rights would be disastrous, not just for the people of this country but for people around the world still fighting for these rights today.

“David Cameron and Michael Gove should drop their plans now and protect our human rights.”

Opposition to the plans is likely to command unified support among Labour MPs, and they will be hoping that Michael Gove’s unpopularity, as well as Jeremy Corbyn’s image as a compassionate politician, will be enough to win public support on the matter.