Tory MP Richard Bacon’s motion to repeal Human Rights Act defeated
MPs have defeated a bid by Conservative MP Richard Bacon to scrap the Human Rights Act, which opponents of equal marriage have argued is a key threat to religious freedom.
Richard Bacon, who represents South Norfolk, said the act had been used by the European Court of Human Rights to influence British law, which was “fundamentally undemocratic”.
The act had too much sway on social policy matters such as abortion and employment laws, the MP added.
However, Labour MP Thomas Docherty argued in the Commons that Mr Bacon had misunderstood the legal impact of the act.
Ultimately, the European court had jurisdiction in the UK, not because of the Human Rights Act, but because of the UK’s membership of the European Convention on Human Rights, Mr Docherty said.
Repealing the act would therefore not achieve Mr Bacon’s aims, the Labour MP concluded.
On Tuesday, MPs voted against Mr Bacon’s 10-minute rule bill by 195 to 72.
It will therefore make no further parliamentary progress.
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