Truss Government drops Bill of Rights Bill

The new Government under Prime Minister Liz Truss will not proceed with the Bill of Rights Bill, championed by former Justice Secretary Dominic Raab, the BBC has reported.

Promoted as strengthening rights such as free speech and jury trial, the bill was widely criticised as weakening other protections for individuals and limiting their ability to enforce their rights before UK courts – while at the same time attempting to reduce the influence of the European Court of Human Rights.

The bill went much further than recommendations following a Government-appointed independent review of the Human Rights Act under retired judge Sir Peter Gross.

Government sources have been reported as saying that the bill is unlikely to progress in its current form, and have declined to confirm that a further bill would be introduced.

Ministers are said to be "reviewing the most effective means to deliver objectives through our legislative agenda". Commentators have suggested that piecemeal reforms in other bills before Parliament may still attempt to achieve some of the same outcomes, as members of the new Cabinet, particularly Home Secretary Suella Braverman, are known to be hostile to the European Convention.

Mr Raab has been replaced as Justice Secretary by Brandon Lewis.