Theresa May plans to take the UK out of the European Convention on Human Rights, according to new reports.
The Telegraph says that the Prime Minister plans to fight the 2020 election on a platform of leaving the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR). The PM plans to “lift and shift” rights protections so people in the UK can only seek rights protections in UK courts. If correct, this would be the first time that any major party has promised to take the UK out of the ECHR altogether.
Theresa May will put plans to pull out of the European Court of Human Rights (EHCR) at the heart of her campaign for the 2020 general election campaign, after ministers conceded that reform plans have been delayed by Brexit.
The SNP have warned Theresa May that pulling out of the European Convention on Human Rights will trigger a “constitutional crisis”. The SNP’s justice spokeswoman Joanna Cherry QC MP said: “Human rights are a devolved matter and any plans to take Scotland out of the ECHR would require the consent of the Scottish Parliament. “Given the strong cross party support for the ECHR and the Human Rights Act in both the parliament and across Scottish civil society consent would not be forthcoming and thus any attempt to repeal existing rights would be likely to provoke a constitutional crisis.”