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Lester the teathered 'Goat' savages PM on human rights
Joe Murphy, Political Editor11.12.08
GORDON BROWN came under scathing attack from a former adviser for his "dismal and deeply disappointing" record on human rights today.
Lord Lester, one of the big hitters from other political parties recruited by the Prime Minister last year, said the Government had lamentably failed to defend the Human Rights Act.
"The Government has a deeply disappointing record in giving effect to the values underpinning the Human Rights Act in its policies and practices," said the peer, an eminent lawyer.
His comments were made after Justice Secretary Jack Straw admitted that the 1997 Act was seen as "a villain's charter" and said ministers were thinking of counterbalancing it by laying down a list of citizens' responsibilities.
Lord Lester singled out the Justice Secretary for criticism, accusing him of "undermining" the Act.
Lord Lester said: "That is a lamentable departure from his predecessors as Lord Chancellor, Lord Irvine of Lairg and Lord Falconer, who staunchly defended the Human Rights Act."
The peer was one of the big-name outsiders harnessed by the Prime Minister as part of his attempt to form a "government of all the talents", the recruits being dubbed "Goats".
The peer said he had felt like a "tethered goat" during his time in the administration, from which he resigned a month ago.
He went on: "The Government could have celebrated Human Rights Day by defending the Human Rights Act against unfair attack.
"It could have celebrated by accepting the recommendations of the UN human rights treaty bodies, the joint committee on human rights and NGOs to allow the people of this country to exercise the right of individual petition against the government under the international covenant on civil and political rights, the convention for the elimination of all forms of racial discrimination, and the torture convention."
Lord Lester's attack was made to coincide with the 60th anniversary of the United Nations' declaration of human rights.
Reader views (10)
We have a UK Bill of Rights. It was passed into law in 1689 by a very wise group of politicians. It grants more rights than our present government is willing to give the British people. It was never repealed and cannot be repealed. It`s about time ordinary folk took back our rights under the 1689 Bill.
Oh, there is nothing inherently wrong with the Human Rights Act - only the Labour lawyers who make a living out of silly applications to the court.
- Clive Allen, Brighton, UK
All this government PROMISE of action. They are going to put right those things that have annoyed us for years. All of a sudden they are concerned what we think.
Could it be an election is not far away?
- Peter, kings lynn
Lord Lester seems to be an example of that all-too-common type in the senior echelons of the legal profession and government - a person who is highly intelligent but lacks judgment and commonsense. The HRA, intended as the last refuge for the persecuted innocent, is now of course the first port-of-call for the villain, flanked by his scumbag lawyers. This was predicted by some Whitehall ministries (e.g. Defence), but ignored by others (e.g. Foreign Office), and the naive New Labour politicians followed the latter in enacting this wretched legislation. Now they presumably regret their folly, but find it difficult to get off the hook. Just show some courage for a change, and repeal it.
- Richard, London, London. UK
It is the European court that ensures British people have rights and freedoms the British government denies to its own people.
- Paul Lettan, Old St Pancras, London
When human rights legislation is so thoroughly used and abused as it the current British version, something is seriously wrong with it and cries out for re-examination. Human rights that do not recognize the potential for misuse of the protections is not a relief for suffering, but an instigator of the same.
This - or the next parliament needs to get its act together and actually think before they vote such rubbish into law.
- Rogan, Irving
Lord Lester must be off this head.
- Mike,, London
This Government is destroying our rights and uses the Human Rights Act purely as a cover for its so-called security policies(you know how it goes - the right not to be blown up means you have to surrender all other rights). What we need is a decent Government that respects Parliament and people and is prepared to deliver a proper Bill of Rights for all of us, based upon British law, not Euro- claptrap.
- James Elliott, Eastbourne UK
We are a western democratic country, not a third world nation, human rights laws only favour criminals and illegal immigrants, and many times foriegn criminals. Scrap them and replace them with a UK bill of rights similar to the US.
- Brandon Thomas, London UK
The Act undermines itself, it IS a villain's charter. Only scum have ever invoked the act to protect their vile activities in this country.
Ordinary citizens live in fear, unable to defend themselves, because they know they are the ones who will get nicked if they try and stand up for themselves.
This society, thanks to Labour and the 'Scums Act', is screwed. It doesn't surprise me that Lord Lester of the Liberal-Lefties is throwing his toys out of the pram. They would release all criminals given the chance.
- Frank, Home Counties, England
We live in a police state, it is only a matter of time before the first"re-education camps" are opened.
We have no rights, if we complain the state will use anti terror laws to crush us.
What happened to our poor country.
- Robert Carter, Liverpool Merseyside
