MoJ must tackle court backlog rather than ‘politicise’ human rights, says Labour
Labour have hit out at the ministry of justice’s plans to overhaul human rights law.
Deputy prime minister and justice secretary Dominic Raab has said the plans will ensure that the British Supreme Court calls the shots on UK rights by making clear in legislation that they base their determination on UK laws and precedence, rather than the European Court of Human Rights.
Steve Reed MP, Labour’s Shadow Justice Secretary said this morning: “Our criminal justice system is in crisis with record backlogs in the Crown courts, huge delays in prosecuting criminals, and shamefully low conviction rates for rape and sexual offences. But Dominic Raab is ignoring all that so he can tinker with human rights laws as a distraction from the avalanche of corruption that has overwhelmed this out-of-touch Conservative Government.
“Ministers should be focussing on sorting out the failures in our courts, prisons, and probation services that are stoking, rather than stopping, crime. Senior figures from GCHQ, MI5 and MI6 have already warned that the Government’s politicised changes to human rights law could make the UK less safe by making it more difficult to fight terrorism.
“Labour will oppose the Human Rights Act being ripped to shreds by a Conservative Government planning to endanger the public by changing the rules to protect themselves.”
Dominic Raab was quizzed over the plans on BBC One’s Breakfast programme earlier today, during which he argued that: “We can strengthen our tradition of liberty but add some common sense.”
He referred to freedom of speech and trial by jury as essential rights throughout British history, but argued that there had been an “elastication of human rights, which damage their credibility.”
He highlighted how deportation orders had been overturned when foreign criminals had claimed their right to family life, something these new proposals would reject.
“We have seen the goalposts on human rights shift,” complaining that any changes made “should be decided by elected lawmakers”.
