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The Sun attacks David Cameron over British bill of rights delay The Sun attacks David Cameron over British bill of rights delay
(35 minutes later)
Today’s Queen’s Speech “will not include controversial legislation to replace the human rights act with a British bill of rights”, reports the Daily Telegraph.Today’s Queen’s Speech “will not include controversial legislation to replace the human rights act with a British bill of rights”, reports the Daily Telegraph.
It says the decision to announce a consultation on the issue instead follows criticism for senior Tories over the plans, which the Sun reminds us were a Tory manifesto pledge.It says the decision to announce a consultation on the issue instead follows criticism for senior Tories over the plans, which the Sun reminds us were a Tory manifesto pledge.
Indeed, the paper that urged its readers just 20 days ago to vote for David Cameron’s Conservative party has turned on the prime minister with a scathing front page leading article.Indeed, the paper that urged its readers just 20 days ago to vote for David Cameron’s Conservative party has turned on the prime minister with a scathing front page leading article.
Under photographs of four offenders said to have used the human rights act (HRA) to avoid deportation and four people opposed to the act, the Sun registers its “bitter disappointment” about it not being part of planned legislation in this parliament.Under photographs of four offenders said to have used the human rights act (HRA) to avoid deportation and four people opposed to the act, the Sun registers its “bitter disappointment” about it not being part of planned legislation in this parliament.
“The Tories rightly pledged to repeal the HRA, which makes the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR) part of our national law”, says the paper. It continues:“The Tories rightly pledged to repeal the HRA, which makes the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR) part of our national law”, says the paper. It continues:
“The Tories have all the evidence they need. It’s here, on these pages. They’ve had years to prepare. Only the Lib Dems were holding them back...“The Tories have all the evidence they need. It’s here, on these pages. They’ve had years to prepare. Only the Lib Dems were holding them back...
The bill of rights would adopt almost everything noble in the ECHR, which Britain helped design after world war two. But it would stop us being slaves to every cockeyed interpretation of it.The bill of rights would adopt almost everything noble in the ECHR, which Britain helped design after world war two. But it would stop us being slaves to every cockeyed interpretation of it.
Sections would be skilfully reworded to ensure they can no longer be abused by crooks, lawyers and liberal judges.Sections would be skilfully reworded to ensure they can no longer be abused by crooks, lawyers and liberal judges.
Article 8 of the ECHR, for example, securing the right to privacy and a family life, was intended to limit state surveillance. It has ended up being used to let illegal immigrants stay in Britain”.Article 8 of the ECHR, for example, securing the right to privacy and a family life, was intended to limit state surveillance. It has ended up being used to let illegal immigrants stay in Britain”.
The Daily Mail, rather than attack Cameron for the delay, launches a front page attack on actors (aka “the massed ranks of luvviedom”) for opposing plans to scrap the HRA.The Daily Mail, rather than attack Cameron for the delay, launches a front page attack on actors (aka “the massed ranks of luvviedom”) for opposing plans to scrap the HRA.
In its article, Folly of human rights luvvies, it appears that the Mail was either out of the political loop, and therefore unaware that Cameron had shelved his HRA replacement plans, or was relatively relaxed about the prime minister’s decision to delay legislation.In its article, Folly of human rights luvvies, it appears that the Mail was either out of the political loop, and therefore unaware that Cameron had shelved his HRA replacement plans, or was relatively relaxed about the prime minister’s decision to delay legislation.
The former seems most likely since there are clear disparities between the online and print versions of the story itself and the leading article, suggesting last-minute amendments to take account of the Tories’ change of mind. (The Daily Express got it wrong too).The former seems most likely since there are clear disparities between the online and print versions of the story itself and the leading article, suggesting last-minute amendments to take account of the Tories’ change of mind. (The Daily Express got it wrong too).
It is also obvious that the premise of the Mail’s assault on the actors is based on the likelihood of the HRA forming part of this session’s business.It is also obvious that the premise of the Mail’s assault on the actors is based on the likelihood of the HRA forming part of this session’s business.
The article is based on the fact that a number of actors, evidently including Benedict Cumberbatch, Simon Callow and Vanessa Redgrave, are to feature in films as part of Liberty’s campaign to save the HRA.The article is based on the fact that a number of actors, evidently including Benedict Cumberbatch, Simon Callow and Vanessa Redgrave, are to feature in films as part of Liberty’s campaign to save the HRA.
In a leading article, Pipe down, Sherlock (geddit?), the Mail took a similar line to the Sun in arguing that “5,000 foreign criminals are at large on Britain’s streets awaiting deportation” because of the HRA’s existence.In a leading article, Pipe down, Sherlock (geddit?), the Mail took a similar line to the Sun in arguing that “5,000 foreign criminals are at large on Britain’s streets awaiting deportation” because of the HRA’s existence.
Its first edition leader stated: “In their election manifesto, the Conservatives pledged to ‘restore common sense’ to the law. The sooner they do so, the safer we’ll all be”.Its first edition leader stated: “In their election manifesto, the Conservatives pledged to ‘restore common sense’ to the law. The sooner they do so, the safer we’ll all be”.
By the final edition, that had changed to read: “In their election manifesto, the Conservatives pledged to ‘restore common sense’ to the law. As signs of dither emerge, we urge them not to delay”. Signs of dither? Could that herald a Mail attack on Cameron very similar to the Sun’s?By the final edition, that had changed to read: “In their election manifesto, the Conservatives pledged to ‘restore common sense’ to the law. As signs of dither emerge, we urge them not to delay”. Signs of dither? Could that herald a Mail attack on Cameron very similar to the Sun’s?
Both leaders conclude with the same sentence:Both leaders conclude with the same sentence:
“As for the posturing peacocks of Tinseltown, if we want their advice on jurisprudence, we’ll ask for it”.“As for the posturing peacocks of Tinseltown, if we want their advice on jurisprudence, we’ll ask for it”.
Clearly, the Times was in the know because its splash, in all editions, is headlined “Cameron blinks first in human rights row”.Clearly, the Times was in the know because its splash, in all editions, is headlined “Cameron blinks first in human rights row”.
It reported that Cameron “has stepped back from an early confrontation with his own MPs over a controversial move to scrap European human rights laws”.It reported that Cameron “has stepped back from an early confrontation with his own MPs over a controversial move to scrap European human rights laws”.
The plan to replace the HRA with a British bill of rights “has faced a backlash from Conservative backbenchers and the judiciary”, said the Times’s article.The plan to replace the HRA with a British bill of rights “has faced a backlash from Conservative backbenchers and the judiciary”, said the Times’s article.
It names three senior Tories who oppose the idea: Dominic Grieve, the former attorney-general; David Davis, the former shadow home secretary; and Andrew Mitchell, the former chief whip.It names three senior Tories who oppose the idea: Dominic Grieve, the former attorney-general; David Davis, the former shadow home secretary; and Andrew Mitchell, the former chief whip.
Nick Robinson, the BBC’s political editor, speaking on Radio 4’s Today programme this morning, pointed out that the Tory press is “very angry” at the delay. But Cameron, “in the real world”, would be defeated in the Commons should he attempt to scrap the HRA.Nick Robinson, the BBC’s political editor, speaking on Radio 4’s Today programme this morning, pointed out that the Tory press is “very angry” at the delay. But Cameron, “in the real world”, would be defeated in the Commons should he attempt to scrap the HRA.
On the same programme, junior Tory minister Liz Truss ducked questions about the delay to the introduction of a British bill of rights. It would definitely happen, however, because it was a manifesto commitment. On the same programme, junior Tory minister Liz Truss ducked questions about the delay to the introduction of a British bill of rights. But it would definitely happen, she said, because it was a manifesto commitment.