Majority of Brits want the Human Rights Act to ‘remain as it is’
A recent poll have revealed that the majority of Britons want all rights presently in the act to remain.
Many Britons have voiced their support for the Human Rights Act – despite Conservative plans to scrap it.
The Tories vowed to scrap the HRA in their pre-election manifesto and have since announced plans to replace it with a British Bill of Rights.
The government claim that the current act is being exploited by terror suspects and criminals seeking to avoid deportation.
However, a recent survey has revealed that the majority of the UK not only wish for the current HRA to remain – they also want it to remain exactly as it is.
Almost half of British adults – 46 per cent – called for all rights presently in the act to be retained, according to a ComRes poll.
A number of celebrities have come out in support of the act, including Sherlock actor Benedict Cumberbatch and award winning actress Vanessa Redgrave.
Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon has vowed to block the repeal of the act in parliament.
Sturgeon said it is “inconceivable” that Holyrood would go along with the plans to scrap the HRA, and that it would be a “monumental mistake”.
A number human rights activists have also criticised the move, arguing the new bill would offer limited protection to those most at risk of discrimination.
Article 14 of the Human Rights Act – which affords protection from discrimination – has been used in many legal cases to argue for protection for LGBT people.
A planning document that was previously made public on the Conservative website says the new British Bill of Rights will only be applicable in certain circumstances, and will not be valid for “trivial” matters.
It also explicitly states that the British Bill of Rights will not apply to the armed forces – which could strip LGBT soldiers of legal recourse under anti-discrimination protections.
David Cameron appointed former education secretary Michael Gove as Secretary of State for Justice earlier this year – replacing Chris Grayling – and the minister is responsible for pushing forward with the changes.
