Plans to scrap human rights act postponed

Plans to scrap the Human Rights Act have been delayed for a second time until 2016, Justice Secretary Michael Gove has confirmed.

Gove said the Prime Minister’s request for a consultation into whether to set up a constitutional court to block EU laws has kicked off a complicated process.

The Government plans to introduce a British Bill of Rights to replace the HRA.

RELATED CONTENT

Former Attorney General Dominic Grieve warns human rights reform risks 'new areas of political discord'

Jim Wallace: Tory pledge on Human Rights Act 'could plunge this country into a legal and constitutional crisis'

Gove said he had intended to publish draft proposals this month, but that has now been pushed back to next year.

“These are huge questions, they require debate and it's because they require some thought as I say my original intention which was to publish the consultation document before Christmas has been put back and I expect any consultation document that we produce will be now produced in the New Year because the issue that the Prime Minister raises requires serious thought, consultation within government and then space afterwards to allow proper debate,” Mr Gove said at a House of Lords Select Committee yesterday.

“It is the case that the German constitutional court can in certain circumstances say that rulings of the court of justice of the European Union may pose problems for their constitution.”

The Government's original plan was to introduce the British Bill of Rights in the first Queen's Speech of the Parliament.