header-logo header-logo

A UK Bill of Rights: take 2

11 June 2015 / Michael Zander KC
Issue: 7656 / Categories: Features , Human rights
printer mail-detail
nlj_7656_zander

Michael Zander QC on the Report of the Commission on a UK Bill of Rights

We are told that the government will be consulting on a proposed British Bill of Rights. It is not clear what that will involve but presumably it does not mean a repetition of the extensive consultation exercise undertaken for the coalition government.

Coalition Commission

The Commission on a UK Bill of Rights was established by the coalition government in March 2011. The members were eight QCs, chaired by a retired senior civil servant, Sir Leigh Lewis. The eight QCs (one was also a former EU Court of Justice judge) were people from a spectrum of different political backgrounds with different perspectives on the issues.

The terms of reference were “[to] investigate the creation of a UK Bill of Rights that incorporates and builds on all our obligations under the European Convention on Human Rights (the Convention), ensures that these rights continue to be enshrined in UK law, and protects and extend our liberties”. Adherence

If you are not a subscriber, subscribe now to read this content
If you are already a subscriber sign in
...or Register for two weeks' free access to subscriber content

MOVERS & SHAKERS

Birketts—trainee cohort

Birketts—trainee cohort

Firm welcomes new cohort of 29 trainee solicitors for 2025

Keoghs—four appointments

Keoghs—four appointments

Four partner hires expand legal expertise in Scotland and Northern Ireland

Brabners—Ben Lamb

Brabners—Ben Lamb

Real estate team in Yorkshire welcomes new partner

NEWS
Robert Taylor of 360 Law Services warns in this week's NLJ that adoption of artificial intelligence (AI) risks entrenching disadvantage for SME law firms, unless tools are tailored to their needs
The Court of Protection has ruled in Macpherson v Sunderland City Council that capacity must be presumed unless clearly rebutted. In this week's NLJ, Sam Karim KC and Sophie Hurst of Kings Chambers dissect the judgment and set out practical guidance for advisers faced with issues relating to retrospective capacity and/or assessments without an examination
Delays and dysfunction continue to mount in the county court, as revealed in a scathing Justice Committee report and under discussion this week by NLJ columnist Professor Dominic Regan of City Law School. Bulk claims—especially from private parking firms—are overwhelming the system, with 8,000 cases filed weekly
Charles Pigott of Mills & Reeve charts the turbulent progress of the Employment Rights Bill through the House of Lords, in this week's NLJ
From oligarchs to cosmetic clinics, strategic lawsuits against public participation (SLAPPs) target journalists, activists and ordinary citizens with intimidating legal tactics. Writing in NLJ this week, Sadie Whittam of Lancaster University explores the weaponisation of litigation to silence critics
back-to-top-scroll