Former Attorney General will use speech to question plans for Bill of Rights

18 Nov 2015

The Rt Hon Dominic Grieve QC MP will deliver the Annual Harry Street Lecture, entitled Can a Bill of Rights do better than the Human Rights Act? on Thursday, 19 November (5pm) in Lecture Theatre A, University Place

The former Attorney General, The Rt Hon Dominic Grieve QC MP, will use a speech at the University this week to voice his concerns about government plans for a British Bill of Rights.

The Conservative MP, who served as the government’s chief legal advisor from 2010 to 2014, is expected to criticise David Cameron’s ambition to scrap the 1998 Human Rights Act and replace it with a new British Bill, saying it is likely to fail our  international obligations.

He is expected to say: “The Bill of Rights may have some value, but only in the context of major constitutional reform."

A British Bill of Rights formed part of the Conservative party’s 2015 manifesto. David Cameron has pledged to scrap the 1998 Human Rights Act and replace it with a controversial new piece of legislation as part of efforts o break the link between the European Convention of Human Rights and British courts. The move is strongly opposed by civil liberties groups.

Mr Grieve was a vocal supporter of the European Convention on Human Rights – enshrined in British law under the 1998 Human Rights Act – during his time in government.

Professor Toby Seddon, Head of the School of Law, said: “We are delighted to be hosting Dominic Grieve to deliver a keynote lecture at such a vital time in this debate.”