Human rights consultation delayed until new year

The UK Government's consultation on replacing the Human Rights Act with a British Bill of Rights will not be published until the new year, Lord Chancellor Michael Gove has confirmed.

Appearing before the House of Lords Constitution Committee, Mr Gove said he had intended to publish the bill by this month, but it had been delayed. A paper has been drawn up but is currently being discussed within the Government.

The Lord Chancellor revealed that the Prime Minister has requested that the he looks at establishing a "constitutional long-stop" and whether the Supreme Court should act as that body.

He added that the consultation would feature a series of "open-ended questions" which aim to secure the "broadest possible consensus". He also insisted that no devolved part of the UK should have a veto on reform – but did not give a clear answer when pressed by the former Lord President, Lord Cullen of Whitekirk, as to whether the Sewel convention, which will be stated in legislative form under the Scotland Bill, would apply.

Claiming that the good name of human rights had been "tarnished", Mr Gove said it had come to be seen as "providing protection for people who are unmeritorious rather than safeguarding essential liberties which go to make the birthright of any resident in these islands". The British Bill of Rights would strengthen the rights of minority groups.

He also denied that the UK's reputation had been damaged by its failure to implement rulings of the European Court of Human Rights on allowing prisoner voting.