MP Richard Bacon
South Norfolk MP’s bid to scrap Human Rights Act fails
Wednesday, December 5, 2012
9:59 AM
The House of Commons last night rejected a Conservative Norfolk MP’s bid to get the Human Rights Act scrapped.
South Norfolk MP Richard Bacon claimed the Act, passed by Tony Blair’s Labour in 1998, allowed the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) in Strasbourg to unduly influence British law and to supersede Parliament.
In particular he highlighted recent controversy over the government’s failed attempts to deport the radical cleric Abu Qatada and the ECHR ruling which said prisoners in the UK should be allowed to vote in elections.
Mr Bacon told MPs in the Commons: “A supra-national court can impose its will against ours and, in my view, this is fundamentally undemocratic.
“Judges do not have access to a tablet of stone not available to the rest of us that allow them better to discern what our people need than we can possibly do as their elected, fallible, corrigible representatives.”
Mr Bacon introduced a motion to repeal the Act yesterday afternoon but Labour MPs, led by Thomas Docherty, defended the legislation as one of their party’s most important reforms during 13 years in government.
He said: “How can we ask developing countries, the new democracies, to respect human rights when we seek to remove them from our statute book?”
After a vote the motion was defeated by 195 against to 72 in favour.
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12 comments
I am a bit puzzled. MP Richard bacon made an expenses claim (£42.90) for a train journey from London to Diss (9.9.2010) and a taxi (£14.00) Diss to Pullham Market (9.9.2010). This claim was refused, does anyone know why? I am sure travel expenses are allowed for MPs, so why was this one refused?
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popeye
Friday, December 7, 2012
South Norfolk MP Richard Bacon...what a horrible example of human kind. How come he didn't propose the reintroduction of workhouses run by G4, I am sure he could conjure up support amongst his gin and tonic club mates.
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popeye
Friday, December 7, 2012
Naturally everyone would want to see human rights laws in place. But there remains the point that the wishes of the government we have elected are knocked back time and again by judges interpreting human rights laws. And judges are not infallible-some are the sort of people who describe burglars as being brave.There is also the question of whether some of the laws run contrary to what most people would see as reasonable and natural justice and give undue protection to those who don't need it whilst leaving others exposed. I don't see why any MP should not focus on this sort of matter, district councils are for local matters, MPs for national government.
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Daisy Roots
Thursday, December 6, 2012
Good grief. The first time in ages that Emperor Nero has stuck his head above the parapet and he come up with this bizarre idea. Best he get back to filling in his expenses claims, it's the only thing he is capable of. 72 votes in favour? How embarrassing. So everybody, what should he try next ... there must be someting suitable for the pantomime season he could do?!
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john smith
Wednesday, December 5, 2012
Oh no, he won't get an award for that then. And now, when those poor people campaigning against the planned solar 'farm' in that neghbouring Tory MP's patch, find the scheme passed by a compliant local planning authority, and the secretary of state refuses to call it in, and no judge in the land is willing to support a judicial review, they will be able to go running to Strasbourg for redress. No wonder Bacon and chums don't like it.
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Police Commissioner ???
Wednesday, December 5, 2012
HE HAS JUST DENIED HIMSELF ANY RIGHTS YOU BET
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No to tory boy
Wednesday, December 5, 2012
There never was a mandate to pass this pernicious Act, in the first place and all recent Polls show a majority of the British public want it scrapped a.s.a.p. It is a criminal rights act and nothing to do with human rights.
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broadsman
Wednesday, December 5, 2012
I find the swing to hard right by some members of the honourable house very disconcerting. Surely we have seen enough right wing extremism from 1930s Germany. The above mentioned M.P. would find himself better thought of by looking after the human rights of his electorate who are under severe attack namely the sick and disabled. Humanity needs a champion in these sad times.
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mike fowler
Wednesday, December 5, 2012
And so it should have failed
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expat
Wednesday, December 5, 2012
Is this really what our local MP should be focussing his time on?
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DT
Wednesday, December 5, 2012
So. Bacon believes that us "minions" should not have any rights. Have I got news for you Bacon !.
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"V"
Wednesday, December 5, 2012
Very good that it failed, because he never had a mandate for his assumptions.
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ingo wagenknecht
Wednesday, December 5, 2012