The Human Rights Act: The real story

The UK government is committed to scrapping the Human Rights Act (HRA) and replacing it with a British Bill of Rights aimed at ‘curtailing the role of the European Court of Human Rights’. This would have damaging and far-reaching repercussions for people’s rights in the UK, the UK’s relationship with the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR) and the European Union, and the UK’s international reputation.

We believe the HRA is an excellent example of national human rights protection. It is designed to suit and support the UK’s democratic system, protecting universal rights while preserving parliamentary sovereignty. However, it is rarely championed, often attacked, and much misunderstood.

This briefing cuts through the myths, rebuts some common criticisms, and highlights the positive impact of the HRA and the ECtHR.