Washminster

Washminster
Washminster

Tuesday 24 March 2009

A British Bill of Rights?

There is already a British Bill of Rights, passed by Parliament in 1689 - but the rights relate to those of Parliament - and not the individual rights we have associated with "Bills of Right" since the 18th Century.

The Green Paper "Rights and Responsibilities: developing our constitutional framework" was published yesterday. It is a consultation paper about rights and responsibilities - one option up for discussion is a legally enforceable Bill of Rights - though the government has signalled that it would prefer a more declaratory, but less enforceable, statement of rights.

It is a goldmine for students of the British constitution - and I recommend reading it closely.

The statement was also read out in the Lords - and the ensuing questions are available at http://pubs1.tso.parliament.uk/pa/ld200809/ldhansrd/text/90323-0005.htm#0903238000440