Truss lists Human Rights Act reform as "third priority"

Replacement of the Human Rights Act with a British Act is a priority, but more pressing are prison reform and making the justice system work, including court reform, Liz Truss, the new Lord Chancellor said today.

Ms Truss set out her priorities for the Justice Department in evidence to the House of Commons Justice Select Committee, in a session in which she otherwise avoided giving any specific answers, saying repeatedly that she was "looking at" various matters put to her by MPs.

She did confirm that “making sure our prisons are places of safety and reform” was “the most pressing issue I face as Justice Secretary”, adding: “We cannot press on with our reform plan without making sure prisons are safe.” Her answer was given in the light of a 40% increase in violence against prison officers in the past year.

Her second priority was “making sure the justice system works for everyone”, with court reform playing a key role.

On the Bill of Rights she stated: “That is a manifesto commitment that we are proceeding with, and that is the third priority I will be looking at.”

Asked what the point of repealing the Human Rights Act would be, if the UK was not to withdraw from the European Convention on Human Rights, the Lord Chancellor replied: “What the British Bill of Rights will do is protect our rights but in a better way.”

She declined to give any detail, saying that her department was still working on the proposal.