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Cameron condemned for 'using Magna Carta day to push British bill of rights' Cameron condemned for 'using Magna Carta day to push British bill of rights'
(about 1 hour later)
The prime minister has been accused of hypocrisy for using a speech on the 800th anniversary of Magna Carta to deliver an attack on the European convention on human rights.The prime minister has been accused of hypocrisy for using a speech on the 800th anniversary of Magna Carta to deliver an attack on the European convention on human rights.
During a speech at Runnymede Green, where King John added his seal to the charter in 1215, David Cameron signalled his intention to push ahead with controversial plans for a British bill of rights to replace the Human Rights Act, which enshrines the convention in British law.During a speech at Runnymede Green, where King John added his seal to the charter in 1215, David Cameron signalled his intention to push ahead with controversial plans for a British bill of rights to replace the Human Rights Act, which enshrines the convention in British law.
Related: Magna Carta: explore the document in fullRelated: Magna Carta: explore the document in full
Flanked by the Queen and the archbishop of Canterbury, Cameron said: “Here in Britain, ironically, the good name of human rights has sometimes become distorted and devalued.”Flanked by the Queen and the archbishop of Canterbury, Cameron said: “Here in Britain, ironically, the good name of human rights has sometimes become distorted and devalued.”
In apparent reference to the government plans for a bill of rights, he said: “It falls to us in this generation to restore the reputation of those rights – and their critical underpinning of our legal system.”In apparent reference to the government plans for a bill of rights, he said: “It falls to us in this generation to restore the reputation of those rights – and their critical underpinning of our legal system.”
Campaigners for civil liberties accused the prime minister of hypocrisy and a tactless use of a historic ceremony for political ends.Campaigners for civil liberties accused the prime minister of hypocrisy and a tactless use of a historic ceremony for political ends.
The director of Liberty, Shami Chakrabarti, said: “The prime minister could give a masterclass in bare-faced cheek, using Magna Carta day to denigrate our Human Rights Act. But we will take no lessons in rights and freedoms from a leader ‎who wants to dilute them to the detriment of everyone in the UK and wider watching world.”The director of Liberty, Shami Chakrabarti, said: “The prime minister could give a masterclass in bare-faced cheek, using Magna Carta day to denigrate our Human Rights Act. But we will take no lessons in rights and freedoms from a leader ‎who wants to dilute them to the detriment of everyone in the UK and wider watching world.”
Yvette Cooper, a Labour leadership contender and shadow home secretary, accused Cameron of trying to “hijack” the ceremony.Yvette Cooper, a Labour leadership contender and shadow home secretary, accused Cameron of trying to “hijack” the ceremony.
She said: “The prime minister is trying to hijack this important celebration of Magna Carta to push his ill-thought-through plans for abolishing the Human Rights Act. It demeans his office.She said: “The prime minister is trying to hijack this important celebration of Magna Carta to push his ill-thought-through plans for abolishing the Human Rights Act. It demeans his office.
“Magna Carta is rightly seen by people across the world as the historic foundation of our democratic rights. Some of it remains in legislation, including the right to justice and a fair trial. It’s a wonderful thing and it’s right that we mark its 800th anniversary.“Magna Carta is rightly seen by people across the world as the historic foundation of our democratic rights. Some of it remains in legislation, including the right to justice and a fair trial. It’s a wonderful thing and it’s right that we mark its 800th anniversary.
“The British-authored European convention on human rights was built on the principles from Magna Carta and was drawn up in the aftermath of the horrors of the second world war so we would never again stand for abuse of our common humanity on European soil. The prime minister should be proud of spreading our historic human rights tradition across Europe and the world, rather than trying to rip it up.”“The British-authored European convention on human rights was built on the principles from Magna Carta and was drawn up in the aftermath of the horrors of the second world war so we would never again stand for abuse of our common humanity on European soil. The prime minister should be proud of spreading our historic human rights tradition across Europe and the world, rather than trying to rip it up.”
Lucy Rigby, a solicitor and former Labour councillor, tweeted that Cameron’s speech was “crude and undignified”.Lucy Rigby, a solicitor and former Labour councillor, tweeted that Cameron’s speech was “crude and undignified”.
Feels more than slightly crude & undignified for Cameron to use Magna Carta's anniversary to press for his controversial plan to scrap HRAFeels more than slightly crude & undignified for Cameron to use Magna Carta's anniversary to press for his controversial plan to scrap HRA
The shadow justice secretary, Lord Falconer, said: “If the prime minister was serious about safeguarding the legacy of Magna Carta, he wouldn’t be using its anniversary to attack fundamental rights. David Cameron should drop any plans to repeal the Human Rights Act and to withdraw from the European convention on human rights immediately.”The shadow justice secretary, Lord Falconer, said: “If the prime minister was serious about safeguarding the legacy of Magna Carta, he wouldn’t be using its anniversary to attack fundamental rights. David Cameron should drop any plans to repeal the Human Rights Act and to withdraw from the European convention on human rights immediately.”
Amnesty International’s head of policy and government affairs, Allan Hogarth, said: “David Cameron’s use of the anniversary of Magna Carta to justify scrapping the Human Rights Act will have those 13th-century barons spinning in their highly ornate, lead-lined coffins.
“Any move to scrap the Act would be a real blow for human rights in this country and around the world.”
Meanwhile, the Democratic Society pointed out that many Tories believe the European court of human rights undermines Magna Carta.Meanwhile, the Democratic Society pointed out that many Tories believe the European court of human rights undermines Magna Carta.
PM making a speech attacking ECHR at Magna Carta event makes sense if you believe ECHR undermines Magna Carta. Which some in his party do.PM making a speech attacking ECHR at Magna Carta event makes sense if you believe ECHR undermines Magna Carta. Which some in his party do.
Cameron’s speech was amplified by the Tory MP for Monmouth, David Davies, who urged his party to “restore common sense to our legal system” with a British bill of rights.Cameron’s speech was amplified by the Tory MP for Monmouth, David Davies, who urged his party to “restore common sense to our legal system” with a British bill of rights.
Anniv of #MagnaCarta: @Conservatives aim 2 safeguard its legacy with a new British Bill of Rights,restoring common sense to our legal systemAnniv of #MagnaCarta: @Conservatives aim 2 safeguard its legacy with a new British Bill of Rights,restoring common sense to our legal system
The campaign group Occupy Democracy has denounced the celebrations as hypocritical after it was banned from running democracy workshops for the public at Runnymede to mark the anniversary.The campaign group Occupy Democracy has denounced the celebrations as hypocritical after it was banned from running democracy workshops for the public at Runnymede to mark the anniversary.
Julie Timbrell, of New Putney Debates – who organised the festival for democracy in collaboration with the Runnymede Eco-Village and Occupy Democracy – said: “The forces of the crown have been turning away democracy speakers and members of the public from our festival in the forest next to where the official Magna Carta celebrations have been taking place. They are denying us our hard-won right of freedom of association and overreaching their powers by misapplication of anti-social behaviour legislation.”Julie Timbrell, of New Putney Debates – who organised the festival for democracy in collaboration with the Runnymede Eco-Village and Occupy Democracy – said: “The forces of the crown have been turning away democracy speakers and members of the public from our festival in the forest next to where the official Magna Carta celebrations have been taking place. They are denying us our hard-won right of freedom of association and overreaching their powers by misapplication of anti-social behaviour legislation.”
She added: “Magna Carta was won through protest by the barons and common people against arbitrary abuse by the king. We represent the common people who, like Robin Hood, fought against cruel and unusual punishments in the forest, the right to sustain themselves in the common realm and for the fair application of justice. It appears only the barons on the invite of the Queen have the right to celebrate Magna Carta.”She added: “Magna Carta was won through protest by the barons and common people against arbitrary abuse by the king. We represent the common people who, like Robin Hood, fought against cruel and unusual punishments in the forest, the right to sustain themselves in the common realm and for the fair application of justice. It appears only the barons on the invite of the Queen have the right to celebrate Magna Carta.”