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| British Bill of Rights plan shelved again for several more years, Justice Secretary confirms | British Bill of Rights plan shelved again for several more years, Justice Secretary confirms |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| The long-running Conservative proposal for a “British Bill of Rights” has once again been shelved for several more years. | The long-running Conservative proposal for a “British Bill of Rights” has once again been shelved for several more years. |
| The policy, which proposes a legal document to replace the Human Rights Act, was originally floated before the 2010 election by David Cameron. | The policy, which proposes a legal document to replace the Human Rights Act, was originally floated before the 2010 election by David Cameron. |
| Liz Truss, the Justice Secretary, has now, however, confirmed that the Government will again delay looking at creating such a Bill until after Brexit, which is unlikely to take place until 2019. | Liz Truss, the Justice Secretary, has now, however, confirmed that the Government will again delay looking at creating such a Bill until after Brexit, which is unlikely to take place until 2019. |
| Another general election is also due in 2020. | |
| The 2010 Coalition agreement said the Government would investigate the creation of the new bill. But in 2012, a commission set by the Government failed to reach unanimous conclusions and the idea was kicked into the long grass. | The 2010 Coalition agreement said the Government would investigate the creation of the new bill. But in 2012, a commission set by the Government failed to reach unanimous conclusions and the idea was kicked into the long grass. |
| The proposal was resurrected before the 2015 general election and Mr Cameron’s majority Conservative government said it was committed to the idea but consistently refused to publish a timescale. | The proposal was resurrected before the 2015 general election and Mr Cameron’s majority Conservative government said it was committed to the idea but consistently refused to publish a timescale. |
| Now the plan has been delayed again because the Government wants to only “do one constitutional reform at a time”. | Now the plan has been delayed again because the Government wants to only “do one constitutional reform at a time”. |
| Ms Truss said in an interview with Parliament’s The House magazine: “Given that we are leaving the European Union and we will have the Great Repeal Bill going through Parliament, clearly that is going to signify a major constitutional change. | Ms Truss said in an interview with Parliament’s The House magazine: “Given that we are leaving the European Union and we will have the Great Repeal Bill going through Parliament, clearly that is going to signify a major constitutional change. |
| “So the British Bill of Rights, whilst it remains a commitment, is not something we can do at the same time as we are putting through that Great Repeal Bill. | “So the British Bill of Rights, whilst it remains a commitment, is not something we can do at the same time as we are putting through that Great Repeal Bill. |
| “That is going to affect the constitution. It’s important we only do one constitutional reform at a time.” | “That is going to affect the constitution. It’s important we only do one constitutional reform at a time.” |
| Ms Truss’s announcement confirms reports that Downing Street sources believed the Government currently has too much on its plate to implement the bill. | |
| In April last year, Theresa May, then Home Secretary, said Britain should withdraw from the European Convention on Human Rights, arguing that it “adds nothing to our prosperity”. | In April last year, Theresa May, then Home Secretary, said Britain should withdraw from the European Convention on Human Rights, arguing that it “adds nothing to our prosperity”. |
| The Human Rights Act, which a British Bill of Rights would replace, enshrines the ECHR rights into British law and extends their applicability to all public authorities, such as the police. | The Human Rights Act, which a British Bill of Rights would replace, enshrines the ECHR rights into British law and extends their applicability to all public authorities, such as the police. |
| In December, it was reported that Ms May would fight the 2020 election on withdrawing from the convention. | In December, it was reported that Ms May would fight the 2020 election on withdrawing from the convention. |