UK Government responds to critical report on the 'Rights Removal Bill'

Date: 28th March 2023
Category: Refugee , migrant and asylum-seeking children

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The UK Government wants to ‘overhaul’ the Human Rights Act 1998 by repealing and replacing it with a Bill of Rights. This will remove many of the protections set out in the Human Rights Act. The UK Government has now replied to a report by the Joint Committee on Human Rights which raised concerns. The UK Government has overwhelmingly disagreed with the recommendations made by the Committee.

The joint report called on UK Government not to make further progress with the Bill’s passage through Parliament. However, in the event that the UK Government did proceed with the Bill, then the report recommended a series of amendments.

The UK Government disagreed with most recommendations made in the joint report. It said it believed there was in fact a case for reforming the Human Rights Act 1998 “to ensure it effectively serves our society”.  It also disagreed with the view that the Bill of Rights would damage the positive dialogue between UK courts and Strasbourg.

It is deeply saddening that the UK Government does not acknowledge the widespread concerns raised by civil society, the House of Lords and the House of Commons Committee. Together continues to advocate for the Human Rights Bill to be protected.

• Read more about the proposed changes to the Human Rights Bill here.
• Read the joint report here.
• Read the UK Government’s response to the joint report here.