Bill of Rights plans promised for autumn

UK Government plans to replace the Human Rights Act with a British Bill of Rights wil be published later this autumn, a minister confirmed yesterday.

Justice Minister Dominic Raab told the Commons that preparation was "going well" on the proposals, which would be subject to full consultation.

Mr Raab did not go into detail, but said that the problems with the European Convention on Human Rights, which the Human Rights Act makes part of UK domestic law, were "less with the text... but its application, and some of those arise because of judicial legislation; others with the operation of the Human Rights Act".

He indicated that the bill would give the UK Supreme Court supremacy over the European Court of Human Rights, and said it would give “a greater respect for the legislative role for honourable members in this place”, pointing to the Government's desire to protect decisions by Parliament from challenge in the courts.

The minister said the Government would take time to get the bill right, in contrast to the "rushed" Human Rights Act, but questions remain whether its approach is compatible with UK membership of the European Convention.