Leading the fight to defend the Human Rights Act

Councillor Wendy Taylor, Deputy Leader of the Liberal Democrats group on Newcastle City Council, is seeking its support at the meeting on 3 June 2015 by putting forward this motion about the Human Rights Act 1998

Council notes that:-

1) The Human Rights Act 1998 came into force in the United Kingdom in October 2000.
2) The Act ensures that the protections in the European Convention on Human Rights, a treaty which British lawyers helped to draft, are enshrined in UK law.
3) All public bodies (such as courts, police, local governments, hospitals, publicly funded schools, and others) and other bodies carrying out public functions have to comply with the Convention rights.
4) The Act ensures that individuals can take human rights cases in domestic courts & no longer have to go to Strasbourg to argue their case in the European Court of Human Rights.
5) The Act sets out the fundamental rights and freedoms that individuals in the UK have access to including:-
a) Right to life
b) Freedom from torture and inhuman or degrading treatment
c) Right to liberty and security
d) Freedom from slavery and forced labour
e) Right to a fair trial
f) No punishment without law
g) Respect for your private and family life, home and correspondence
h) Freedom of thought, belief and religion
i) Freedom of expression
j) Freedom of assembly and association
k) Right to marry and start a family
l) Protection from discrimination in respect of these rights and freedoms
m) Right to peaceful enjoyment of your property
n) Right to education
o) Right to participate in free elections

Council believes these fundamental rights & freedoms are crucial for a fair, free & democratic society & that everyone in the UK is entitled to have these rights respected, even when we disagree with their beliefs or actions.

Council further notes that, at a time when we are honouring those who fought in the Second World War and the purpose for which so many lost their lives defending our liberty and freedoms, we reject the Government's proposal to repeal the Human Rights Act and withdraw from the European court of human rights in Strasbourg.

Council therefore resolves to:-
1) Reject proposals by the current Government to repeal the Human Rights Act & replace it with a bill of rights

2) To write to the Home Secretary & the Justice Secretary to express opposition to any attempt to repeal this Act