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by Lib Dem team on 26 May, 2015
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The two candidates for the Liberal Democrat leadership today launch a campaign to save the Human Rights Act from the Conservative axe.
Norman Lamb and Tim Farron will also warn of the dangers of Tory plans to pull out of the European Convention on Human Rights.
David Cameron is expected to include plans to scrap the HRA – an Act that incorporates the ECHR into British law – in Wednesday’s Queen’s Speech.
Liberal Democrats blocked Tory plans to weaken our human rights obligations in Government and we will continue to fight to stop them in Opposition.
Today the pair will put aside their leadership bids to speak up for legislation that has:
Liberal Democrat MP Norman Lamb said:
“Our human rights laws have already achieved so much and we must not let the Tories trample all over them.
“They have stopped the state spying on us, supported peaceful protest and guarded against slavery. They have helped rape victims, defended domestic violence victims and shielded press freedom.
“The Liberal Democrats blocked David Cameron from scrapping the Human Rights Act in Government and we must stop him again now.
“That is why we are urging everyone to get behind our campaign to stop the Tories riding roughshod over our freedoms and rights.”
Liberal Democrat MP Tim Farron said:
“By drawing up plans to scrap the Human Rights Act and laying the groundwork to pull out of the European Convention on Human Rights – the Tories are revealing their true colours.
“It sends a clear message to the British people: the next five years will be nastier, less liberal and less compassionate that any Government in living memory
“These are fundamental rights we all have and they define how we treat our citizens and offer our citizens protection from the state.
“They are the legacy of Winston Churchill and seeing the Tories trashing his legacy, I am in no doubt that today he would once again be a Liberal.
“We blocked them before and we must do all we can to block them again.”
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14 Comments
Prior to incorporating the ECHR, I don’t recall there being a problem with the UK record on Human Rights
Not sure those who were vulnerable would agree with you – do you think the UK Government respected Alan Turing’s human rights, for example?
Alan Turing was many many years ago when the UK was a different place.
In more recent history and prior to signing up for the ECHR what was wrong with the UK human rights?
The Human Rights Act has been used solely by those who have abused the rights of UK citizens and have then fought for years to stay in the country – Abu Hamza et al. Something needs to happen so that Britain is not forced to spend millions on these people in prison and afterwards. Criminals should be deported. I agree with Halifax above. Britain has had a proud and solid reputation on Human Rights in the last 20 years or so. Misguided LibDems.
Hi Karen,
I’m afraid that’s simply not true. The Human Rights Act protects everyone and cases like Abu Hamza are a tiny percentage of the human rights cases that go to court.
Britain does have a proud reputation on human rights in recent years – and that’s exactly why we shouldn’t throw it away and scrap the Human Rights Act. Human rights are about protecting vulnerable people and groups – and any of us could fall into that category at some point.
Anything that puts the rights of perpetrators of rapes, murders and other serious crimes above those of victims and other law abiding citizens is deeply flawed. The sooner this legislation goes to be replaced which gives human rights to all, including the honourable majority, the safer we can all feel.
I agree John, and if the Human Right Act did that it would be a major concern. It doesn’t though.
Iain, it is many peoples’ view the ECHR does give perpetrators of crime protection that is not appropriate/reasonable.
There have been many cases where illegal immigrants, who have committed crimes, we have been unable to deport due to the ECHR. You say it is a small %, I say it should be any.
The LibDems took a battering at the last election, is that because:
a) The people of the UK got it wrong
b) The LibDems got it wrong
I suspect you would answer A and would therefore fail to learn from previous errors – this campaign to save the ECHR is a case in point, and I do not feel you are reflecting the views of your constituents
Lib Dems supporting tyhe Human Rights Act was one of the main reasons that I did NOT vote for Lib Dems because this act helps foreign criminals to stay in the UK – like Abu Hamza – costing us millions to support them !!!
I totally agree we should abolish the human rights act,it is not a tiny minority of thieves,murderers,rapists,gangsters,thugs, burglars,ect that are in the papers nearly ever day.i also did not vote lib dem because of these comments.
Unfortunately, Mike, the papers who want to attack human rights don’t choose the print the 99% of cases that are less controversial and just focus on the ones that are. Even then they often have to distort the facts or just make things up to get it to fit their agenda.
Limit immigration. Deport foreign criminals. Bring on the British Bill of Rights asap!
That is why you got so few seats in parliament with that answer.
And bring on the BRITISH bill of rights !!!!
It has just been reported the, due to the ECHR, we are likely to have to give prisoners the vote.
Iain, justify that if you can.