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Boris Johnson to reject EU’s human rights laws after Brexit (warning - copied and pasted!)

(44 Posts)
GagaJo Mon 02-Mar-20 07:27:37

The Government is reportedly set to reject a request for Britain to remain aligned with European human rights laws.

EU negotiators are expected to request that Britain remains signed up to the European Convention of Human Rights (ECHR), but Britain is set to demand it be fully legally independent, according to The Sunday Telegraph. That would allow the country to repeal the Human Rights Act at a later date.

The EU’s opening position suggests it would automatically end all ‘law enforcement co-operation and judicial co-operation in criminal matters’ if the UK ‘denounces’ the ECHR. Boris Johnson’s Conservatives have long been sceptical of the Act, with the party threatening to scrap it previously.

The party’s manifesto says: ‘After Brexit we also need to look at the broader aspects of our constitution: the relationship between the Government, Parliament and the courts; the functioning of the Royal Prerogative; the role of the House of Lords; and access to justice for ordinary people.

‘The ability of our security services to defend us against terrorism and organised crime is critical. We will update the Human Rights Act and administrative law to ensure that there is a proper balance between the rights of individuals, our vital national security and effective government.’

It also claims that after Brexit Britain ‘will continue to be an outward-looking country that is a champion (and beacon) of… human rights’

Interim Liberal Democrat leader Ed Davey tweeted: ‘Britain should be championing human rights, not trashing them – and our global reputation along with.

‘After WW2 we helped create the European Convention & Court, with Churchill playing key role.

‘I love our country. This is not who we are.’

Labour’s former leader the party’s MEPs, Seb Dance, added: ‘The European Convention on Human Rights predates the EU. It was born in the aftermath of the horrors of WW2. It was drafted by British human rights lawyers – who were leaders in the field.

‘Today’s Conservative Party is an abhorrent mix of nationalists, nativists and narcissists.’

But quoting an editorial in The Telegraph, the Leave.EU group said: ‘the suggestion that the UK can’t be trusted to uphold human rights on its own is insulting and historically illiterate.’

metro.co.uk/2020/03/01/boris-johnson-reject-eus-human-rights-laws-brexit-12329467/?ito=social&fbclid=IwAR0HyXQFOENO469NuKRUCV32FJqw8dvmrW9IqQrvFwpqifHV8QD65toLF9Q

growstuff Wed 04-Mar-20 12:39:19

Dominic Cummings is on record as saying he wants to abandon the ECHR because he claims most people who voted to leave the EU thought they were going to leave the ECHR anyway and will be angry when they find out that they haven't. It seems he's right.

growstuff Wed 04-Mar-20 12:44:18

Pressure to leave the ECHR predates the referendum, which is why the UK government introduced the HRA.

It's looking increasingly that abandoning universal human rights, which are seen as an element of liberalism, was the main motivator behind the Leave vote, which some people have been claiming all along.

This is a culture war.

MaizieD Wed 04-Mar-20 16:50:44

Dominic Cummings is on record as saying he wants to abandon the ECHR because he claims most people who voted to leave the EU thought they were going to leave the ECHR anyway and will be angry when they find out that they haven't. It seems he's right.

I didn't see anything on the ballot paper about leaving the ECHR. It asked if we should leave the EU or remain in it.

Cummings is making an entirely spurious argument for pursuing his own agenda. He has sufficient contempt for 'ordinary' people to not give a flying wotsit about what they think or want. He knows perfectly well that a nation shouldn't be dictated to by its more stupid members, but it's convenient for him to pretend that he does.

MaizieD Wed 04-Mar-20 16:52:20

Sorry. Last sentence '..pretend that it does.'

growstuff Wed 04-Mar-20 21:28:18

But how many people realised that the ECHR isn't anything to do with the EU? It's all European innit, so must be wrong.

I think Cummings has a point. People didn't vote to leave because they thought the country would thrive. They voted for some nebulous concepts of sovereignty and independence.

There are going to be an awful lot of disappointed people, when they find out that immigration laws are unworkable and the country is going to have to accept European standards on many issues.

Cummings was one of the main players in selling the lies, so he's going to have to set his spin machine to overdrive.

POGS Wed 04-Mar-20 21:51:51

Has Boris Johnson said the UK is leaving the ECHR or scrapping the UK's Human Rights Act :-??

The Human Rights Act 1998 (c42) is an Act of Parliament of the United Kingdom which received Royal Assent on 9 November 1998, and mostly came into force on 2 October 2000.[1] Its aim was to incorporate into UK law the rights contained in the European Convention on Human Rights. The Act makes a remedy for breach of a Convention right available in UK courts, without the need to go to the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR) in Strasbourg.'
--

I have read Boris Johnson is preparing to reject the EU 'demand ' that the UK will continue to be bound by the ECHR once the country becomes fully independent.

That is not the same as the UK government leaving the ECHR.

I view it more as the UK Government saying it will not be told what it can and cannot do by the European Union by putting forward proposed clauses in a post-Brexit trade agreement that would require the UK to remain signed up to the European Convention of Human Rights (ECHR).

growstuff Wed 04-Mar-20 22:39:25

He must be aware of the effect of what he has said. If people are misinterpreting it, why doesn't he explain his motivation and intentions transparently?

growstuff Wed 04-Mar-20 22:41:28

I believe that it is part of his (or Cummings') plan to create outrage and chaos.

MaizieD Wed 04-Mar-20 23:47:58

I think you're just buying in to the 'bullying EU' narrative, POGS. Which is just what Johnson wants.

There's no earthly reason why the UK shouldn't remain signed up to the ECHR. Unless the government wants to amend the UK HRA. Which they do, it was in their manifesto. Which is not a promising development. It's a retrograde step dressed up as a populist strategy. (And it was in 2010, before you start)

Eloethan Thu 05-Mar-20 00:22:11

Sadly, I think a lot of voters (and maybe not just leave voters) are totally unconcerned about human rights. The day may come when many people start to regret that lack of concern.

MaizieD Thu 05-Mar-20 07:47:44

I have read Boris Johnson is preparing to reject the EU 'demand ' that the UK will continue to be bound by the ECHR once the country becomes fully independent.

Thinking about this overnight, POGS and I find it puzzling. Are you sure it was the ECHR? Not the ECJ? Do you have a reference for this?

The country has always been fully independent. Just wait until we're on our knees begging for trade deals. Then we'll see how 'independent' we are...

growstuff Thu 05-Mar-20 09:16:38

I think it is the ECHR Maizie.

metro.co.uk/2020/03/01/boris-johnson-reject-eus-human-rights-laws-brexit-12329467/

Quite honestly, I'm more concerned by this in the long-term, and what's motivating it, than leaving the single market.

growstuff Thu 05-Mar-20 09:18:01

PS. The title of the article is, of course, misleading because the ECHR isn't the EU's human rights laws.

MaizieD Thu 05-Mar-20 09:36:32

OK, got it, thanks growstuff.

The EU’s opening position suggests it would automatically end all ‘law enforcement co-operation and judicial co-operation in criminal matters’ if the UK ‘denounces’ the ECHR.

Hasn't the UK in the past refused to extradite people to countries where there are human rights violations? (That's when we were a civilised country, of course) Isn't this a similar stance, but in anticipation rather than in actuality?

It worries me very much, too.

I think that 'human rights' is so associated in people's minds with 'letting off criminals' that they are quite unaware of the protections the legislation offers them. Just as the law should apply equally to all citizens, however 'bad', human rights are the rights of all, with no exceptions.

MaizieD Thu 05-Mar-20 09:36:52

And no 'whataboutery' grin

POGS Thu 05-Mar-20 10:12:34

MaizieD Wed 04-Mar-20 23:47:58

'I think you're just buying in to the 'bullying EU' narrative, POGS. Which is just what Johnson wants.'
----
Here we go again. NOPE!

I am giving another opinion/view that does not comply with 'your ' opinion/view which leads you to assume I am incapable of holding/making assessments as I see/read them.

POGS Thu 05-Mar-20 10:37:12

MaizieD Thu 05-Mar-20 07:47:44

'I have read Boris Johnson is preparing to reject the EU 'demand ' that the UK will continue to be bound by the ECHR once the country becomes fully independent.

Thinking about this overnight, POGS and I find it puzzling. Are you sure it was the ECHR? Not the ECJ? Do you have a reference for this?'
--

I am perfectly capable of understanding both the history of and functions of both the ECHR and the ECJ, Thank you. I have not mentioned the ECJ if you read my posts so once again your post is irrelevant if it follows what I post.

I as an individual accept the UK has left the EU and we are now what is known as a ' third country ' when it comes to Trade Talks etc. I believe it is not acceptable for the EU for Trade purposes to single out the UK from other ' third countries' such as Canada, Japan etc. by demanding what its sovereign policies should be to trade. That is where I agree with the UK government on that point.

I find it is misrepresenting what is happening if it is intimated /stated that the UK government is leaving the ECHR.

If and when the UK government ever states the UK is leaving the ECHR or abandoning the UK's Human Rights Act 1988 then I will give my opinion at that point not whilst it purely ''hypothetical'.

growstuff Thu 05-Mar-20 11:05:10

In that case POGS the government should make its position crystal clear. Unfortunately, I don't believe a word that comes out of Johnson's mouth. The other point is that abandoning the ECHR has long been on the Conservative agenda. It's not totally hypothetical or out of the blue.

I am extremely concerned that the agenda seems to be to throw numerous ideas at the public. Some of them are complete nonsense, but others have a more serious, dangerous intent. People will get so weary of it all, that it wouldn't be that difficult to slip abolishing the HRA and abandoning the ECHR through the net. Leaving it until it happens would be too late.