DFM condemns ‘irresponsible’ attack on human rights

Deputy First Minister John Swinney has written to the UK Government objecting to “ill-judged and irresponsible” plans to revise and replace the Human Rights Act.

In a letter to Lord Chancellor and Secretary of State for Justice Dominic Raab, Mr Swinney described the proposals as an unacceptable attack on human rights, constitutional certainties and the rule of law, including matters that lie firmly within the devolved competence of the Scottish Parliament.

“The Human Rights Act has a 20-year track record of delivering justice, including for some of the most vulnerable people in our society. Expert evidence gathered by the UK Government’s own Independent Review demonstrates beyond argument that replacing the Act is not just unnecessary, but undesirable. The UK Government’s plans are ill-judged and irresponsible,” he said.

“The Scottish Government has repeatedly emphasised that there must be no changes to the Human Rights Act that would undermine or weaken existing human rights safeguards in Scotland, or indeed elsewhere in the UK.”

Background

The DFM’s letter is available online.