Last week, Justice Secretary Liz Truss announced the government’s intention to scrap the Human Rights Act. Such an announcement – in August – suggests both that the government plans on making changes imminently and hopes that they won’t be scrutinised or challenged. But they must be.
Almost 20 years ago the Human Rights Act became UK law, fulfilling the post-war promise that all citizens would have clear inalienable rights. It is absolutely instrumental in ensuring the dignity, respect and vital protections from abuse that we all rely on.
Yet what this is really about is taking Britain out of the European Court of Human Rights. That’s not as a direct result of Brexit, but out of sheer disdain for all Europe-wide bodies.
After all Britain signed up to the ECHR many years before joining the European Union. And one of those who campaigned hardest for its foundation was a British Tory prime minister.
His name? Winston Churchill.
Yet now Theresa May and Liz Truss appear determined to use this period of insecurity and instability to weaken our rights at work and at home.
Please take a minute to sign this petition calling ion Liz Truss not to scrap this important Safeguard to our basic rights, dignity and respect
UNISON members, working hard to provide us with essential public services, rely on the Human Rights Act to support and defend them as they do their jobs and to ensure we are protected at our most vulnerable.
Instead, we face yet another attempt by this government to weaken our rights and divide us.
In the months and years to come, we will fight this calculated attack on our hard won rights and freedoms alongside Amnesty International, Liberty, the British Institution of Human Rights and others.
We cannot let even more of our rights be sold off on the altar of Tory Party management from a new prime Mminister.