Society voices concerns over contents of a UK Bill of
Rights
The Law Society of Scotland is hosting the UK Commission on a
Bill of Rights, today 7 December, at its offices in Edinburgh.
Participants in the discussion include members of the
Commission on a Bill of Rights and senior Scottish legal figures
and academics.
Michael Clancy, Director of Law Reform at the Society, said: "We
were pleased to be asked to host this roundtable discussion today,
and very much welcome the opportunity to be part of this important
debate in which we have been involved with for some time now.
It is worthwhile exploring the possibility of a UK Bill of Rights,
as respect for human rights is an essential building block for any
civilised society.
"However, we do question the contents of such a Bill of Rights
given that the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR) is very
comprehensive and already used in Scotland as well as more widely
across the UK and Europe. I am sure that today's
discussion will be a lively debate and that our attending members
will have extremely interesting and valid contributions."
Ends
07 December 2011
Notes to editors
The Commission on a Bill of Rights is an independent Commission
established by the UK Government in March 2011.
The Society responded to the Commission's call for written
evidence in November, and has previously contributed to the debate
following the publication of White Paper: "Rights and
Responsibilities: developing our constitutional framework (2009)"
and gave evidence to the Joint Committee on Human Rights in
2007.
Read the Society's written evidence on our
website
Attendees include:
UK Commission Representatives: Sir Leigh Lewis
KCB (Chair), Professor Sir David Edward QC, Martin Howe QC,
Baroness Kennedy of The Shaws QC, Lord Lester of Herne Hill QC,
Anthony Speaight QC.
Scottish Legal Figures: Michael Clancy OBE,
Cameron Ritchie LSS President, Aidan O'Neill QC, Gerry Moynihan QC;
Kenneth Campbell QC, Iain Jamieson, Christine O'Neill, Professor
Chris Himsworth, Charles Mullin.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION: Journalists can contact Louise Docherty
on 0131 476 8204 or Val McEwan on 0131 476 8115. For the out of
hours service please call 0131 226 8884.
Email: louisedocherty@lawscot.org.uk
or valeriemcewan@lawscot.org.uk
07 December 2011