Replacing the Human Rights Act kept off the agenda of the Queen’s Speech

Date: 28th June 2017
Category: Other human rights treaties and mechanisms

Both the Human Rights Act and the European Convention on Human Rights were kept off the agenda of the Queens Speech despite the commitment the Conservative party have made in their manifesto to reassess the current domestic human rights legislation.

This means that, although the Human Rights Act remains at risk, it's repeal or replacement is not a priority for the current government.

Stephen Bowen, Director of the British Institute of Human Rights (BIHR), commented on this news by saying that "It is good news that the strength of opposition to 'scrapping' the Human Rights Act kept it off the agenda in this Queen's Speech.

We are renewing our call for the government to pledge their support to our Human Rights Act and the European Convention on Human Rights.

Until they do so, we have to remember the Conservative manifesto commitment to scrap the bill of rights we already have, our Human Rights Act.

Human rights should not be a political football but a source of unity and strength. Join with us and our Human Rights Alliance, and help us to continue to make the case for human rights for all"

• Read the BIHR response here.