Conservative Party announces plans to redefine UK's relationship with European Court of Human Rights

The Conservative Party has announced its proposals to scrap the Human Rights Act 1998, and end the ability of the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) to order changes to British laws.  

Justice Secretary, Chris Grayling, said if the Conservatives win the election, a new Bill of Rights will be introduced to “restore sovereignty to Westminster" by giving UK courts and Parliament the "final say" on whether judgments from Strasbourg are adopted.

Under the plans, to be included in the Conservative Party's general elections manifesto, Britain’s courts will no longer be required to take rulings from the ECHR into account, with its judgments being treated as "advisory" rather than binding.

It is claimed the changes will enable a future Tory Government to limit human rights to only the “most serious cases”, deport more “terrorists and serious foreign criminals” and defy policies such as the ECHR’s requirement that some prisoners be given a vote.

Andrea Williams of Christian Concern said: "This a very worrying development.  Our national courts have seriously let down the Christian community and do not have a track record of recognising and respecting Christian faith. The European Court of Human Rights has shown a better understanding of Christian belief and a greater commitment to protecting Christian freedoms than we have seen in the UK courts in recent years. 

"The European Court's judgment in the cases of Shirley Chaplin, Gary McFarlane and others have already had a positive effect in the UK in tackling the crippling approach to Christian freedoms adopted by our domestic courts over the past decade.

"The track record of the ECHR is mixed and reform is probably needed but without its recent decisions, Christians, as well as many others, would effectively enjoy fewer protections than they do today."  

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Listen to Andrea Williams discuss the proposals on Premier Christian Radio here >