Leading barristers give evidence on Human Rights Act repeal impact

27 October 2015

Continuing with its inquiry into the impact on EU law of a UK decision to repeal the Human Rights Act, the House of Lords Justice Sub-Committee will have the opportunity to question the former Attorney General and leading human rights barristers on Tuesday 27 October.

The Committee is investigating the consequences of the Government's proposal to repeal the Human Rights Act (HRA) and replace it with a "British Bill of Rights", in order to inform both the political and public debate.

Witnesses

The evidence session takes place in Committee Room 1, Palace of Westminster.

At 11.00am:

Rt Hon Dominic Grieve MP QC, MP for Beaconsfield and former Attorney General and specialist in issues relating to civil liberties and international affairs
Martin Howe QC, who has argued in favour of repealing the Human Rights Act and renegotiating the UK's relationship with the EU
Aidan O'Neill QC, a leading authority in EU and human rights law

Possible questions

The witnesses are likely to face questions on a number of areas, including:

whether a British Bill of Rights would have to be subject to the supremacy of EU law, and if it would put the UK in direct conflict with EU law
the impact a UK repeal of the HRA might have on the UK's renegotiation of its membership of the EU, or its relations with other Member States
whether repealing the HRA will lead to the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights being relied on more often by litigants in the UK
whether the European Court of Justice's recent decision about prisoner voting in European Parliament elections provides a new legal avenue for UK prisoners to challenge the UK's blanket ban.

Further information

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