Law and Rights
Speeches today at the Conservative Party Conference in Symphony Hall, Birmingham included Mr Chris Grayling (Justice Secretary) and Theresa May (Home Secretary).
There is much in the speeches to comment about but I will reserve that for a later post. Neither speech contained any major announcement about any plans relating to the Human Rights Act 1998 and it may be that this is being left for the Prime Minister's speech at the end of conference (Wednesday morning).
According to Grayling,
human rights had moved a long way from the basic rights set out in the European Convention and British courts should not be told by a 'foreign court' that we cannot send killers to prison for life. (The European Court of Human Rights did not say that but required there to be a possible review of a prisoner's situation). There was also an attack on Labour who, Grayling said, would extend human rights and teach human rights in schools. (Personally, I have always thought that teaching young people about the law is important).
Theresa May's speech was particularly strong on terrorism and a new Counter-Terrorism Bill is to be introduced in November. May also attacked the Liberal Democrats for "torpedoing" the Communications Data Bill and she strongly argued that greater powers were needed by the Police and Security Services in order to 'keep us safe.' May put a strong argument for extending anti-terrorism powers against the background of the threats to the UK which she argued were now posed by terrorist groups such as ISIL.
The scene appears to be set for some sort of announcement relating to human rights and the UK's relationship with the European Court of Human Rights.
Major speeches apart, there was a useful panel discussion on "Modern Slavery" and a Modern Slavery Bill is currently before the House of Commons. For more on this topic see here.
Addenda:
Halsbury's Law Exchange - New rights for victims of crime
Inside Time - a view that prison is serving to embitter prisoners - Do you want another Raul Moat?
- Counter Terrorism And Security Bill - Joint Committee On Human Rights
Updated 13th January The Joint Committee on Human Rights has issued its report on the Counter Terrorism and Security Bill and has called for better safeguards in a number of areas. The Committee's Conclusions and Recommendations are HERE. Report:...
- Terrorism ~ Report On The Murder Of Fusilier Lee Rigby
The need for legislation to give Ministers more anti-terrorism powers was announced earlier this month - Further anti-terrorism powers (15th November). The new Anti-terrorism and Security Bill is to be presented to Parliament on Wednesday 26th November. ...
- Liberal Democrats - Doing What Works
The Liberal Democrat Party Conference is taking place in Glasgow - 4th to 8th October. Their views on Criminal Justice policy are presented in a Policy Paper - Doing what works to cut crime It's an interesting read. How much of it will...
- Labour Party Conference ~ Speech By Sadiq Khan Mp (shadow Justice Secretary)
At the Labour Party Conference held in Manchester (20th - 24th September), the Shadow Justice Secretary delivered a short speech which may be read here. One clear difference emerged from the stance, at least to date, of the Conservative Party. ...
- From The Party Conferences No. 3 ~ Human Rights
"I still believe we should scrap the Human Rights Act altogether" - Mrs Theresa May - Home Secretary - 2012 Conservative Party Conference. "At the last election we promised to do something about our out of control human rights culture. It?s just crazy...
Law and Rights
Conservative Party Conference Justice and Home Affairs speeches ~ a brief look.
There is much in the speeches to comment about but I will reserve that for a later post. Neither speech contained any major announcement about any plans relating to the Human Rights Act 1998 and it may be that this is being left for the Prime Minister's speech at the end of conference (Wednesday morning).
According to Grayling,
human rights had moved a long way from the basic rights set out in the European Convention and British courts should not be told by a 'foreign court' that we cannot send killers to prison for life. (The European Court of Human Rights did not say that but required there to be a possible review of a prisoner's situation). There was also an attack on Labour who, Grayling said, would extend human rights and teach human rights in schools. (Personally, I have always thought that teaching young people about the law is important).
Theresa May's speech was particularly strong on terrorism and a new Counter-Terrorism Bill is to be introduced in November. May also attacked the Liberal Democrats for "torpedoing" the Communications Data Bill and she strongly argued that greater powers were needed by the Police and Security Services in order to 'keep us safe.' May put a strong argument for extending anti-terrorism powers against the background of the threats to the UK which she argued were now posed by terrorist groups such as ISIL.
The scene appears to be set for some sort of announcement relating to human rights and the UK's relationship with the European Court of Human Rights.
Major speeches apart, there was a useful panel discussion on "Modern Slavery" and a Modern Slavery Bill is currently before the House of Commons. For more on this topic see here.
Addenda:
Halsbury's Law Exchange - New rights for victims of crime
Inside Time - a view that prison is serving to embitter prisoners - Do you want another Raul Moat?
Human rights allow ordinary citizens to stop abuses of power. There is no better sign that they're a good thing than that the govt hate them
? Harriet Johnson (@HarrietEJohnson) October 1, 2014
- Counter Terrorism And Security Bill - Joint Committee On Human Rights
Updated 13th January The Joint Committee on Human Rights has issued its report on the Counter Terrorism and Security Bill and has called for better safeguards in a number of areas. The Committee's Conclusions and Recommendations are HERE. Report:...
- Terrorism ~ Report On The Murder Of Fusilier Lee Rigby
The need for legislation to give Ministers more anti-terrorism powers was announced earlier this month - Further anti-terrorism powers (15th November). The new Anti-terrorism and Security Bill is to be presented to Parliament on Wednesday 26th November. ...
- Liberal Democrats - Doing What Works
The Liberal Democrat Party Conference is taking place in Glasgow - 4th to 8th October. Their views on Criminal Justice policy are presented in a Policy Paper - Doing what works to cut crime It's an interesting read. How much of it will...
- Labour Party Conference ~ Speech By Sadiq Khan Mp (shadow Justice Secretary)
At the Labour Party Conference held in Manchester (20th - 24th September), the Shadow Justice Secretary delivered a short speech which may be read here. One clear difference emerged from the stance, at least to date, of the Conservative Party. ...
- From The Party Conferences No. 3 ~ Human Rights
"I still believe we should scrap the Human Rights Act altogether" - Mrs Theresa May - Home Secretary - 2012 Conservative Party Conference. "At the last election we promised to do something about our out of control human rights culture. It?s just crazy...