Bath MP calls out political posturing over the Good Friday Agreement

27 December 2021

On Tuesday 14th December, Bath MP Wera Hobhouse questioned the Secretary of State for Justice, Dominic Raab, over plans to reform the Human Rights Act (HRA). The Act, which sets out how Government bodies must treat its citizens, is key to the integrity of our justice system. The wording is derived from the European Convention of Human Rights.

Conservatives plan to reform the Act seek to “restore Parliament’s role as the ultimate decision-maker on laws impacting the UK population”. However, the President of The Law Society, Stephanie Boyce, states that many of the powers that the government wishes to introduce are already a part of British law.

Bath MP Wera Hobhouse said:

“The Government is prioritising political posturing over sorting out the issues with our country’s justice system. Plummeting conviction rates across a number of crimes have sown distrust in our system and the Government needs to put its mind to this. The Government’s proposed changes will complicate conditions in Northern Ireland where the Good Friday Agreement is underpinned by the Human Rights Act and European Convention on Human Rights. Perpetuating ideological squabbles with Europe is nothing but political posturing. This Government must govern.”