Thursday, May 18, 2006

Viewpoints: the Human Rights Act / BBC, 18 May 2006

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/4990414.stm
As the prime minister admits he is considering re-writing the Human Rights Act, six experts - for and against the legislation - give their views.
"Many human rights cases have involved victims challenging governments" Shami Chakrabarti, Liberty
"We should be proud that we respect the human rights of people Maeve Sherlock, the Refugee Council
"The volume of cases where Human Rights Act issues have been argued has been relatively small" Simon Gallant, consultant solicitor, Mishcon de Reya
"The members of this autocratic [government] do not have to suffer the consequences" Nigel Farage MEP, UK Independence Party
"It seems criminals and illegal immigrants are elevated to some extraordinary higher status" Clive Elliot, Victims of Crime Trust
"The way the Act is working at the moment is manifestly an abuse of common sense" David Conway, of think-tank Civitas