Government rejects Human Rights Committee’s call to abandon Rights Removal Bill

23 March, 2023

The UK Government has published its response to the report by the Joint Committee on Human Rights on the so-called Bill of Rights Bill. The Committee called for the Government to abandon the Bill. But the Government has broadly rejected the Committee’s recommendations, including those which are vital for protections for non-religious people. Humanists UK has expressed its dismay at the Government’s response.

Last year, Humanists UK responded to the Committee’s call for evidence, highlighting how the Rights Removal Bill – as it is dubbed by its critics – poses a very significant rollback on protections for the non-religious. This is because at present, the Human Rights Act means that public bodies and the courts are able to read additional words into laws and policies, where this is required in order to uphold human rights. In particular, where a law or policy just refers to religion, this must be understood to include non-religious beliefs, even though those words are not written in the law or policy itself. Therefore the Act makes it possible to stop such laws and policies discriminating against the non-religious without anyone having to go to court. And if someone does have to go to court, the court can then fix the problem without the public authority having to change the policy, or Parliament having to amend the law.

The Committee’s report draws attention to the evidence submitted by Humanists UK on the removal of reading in powers and the threat to overturn the readings-in made under the Human Rights Act over the two decades.

In the event that the Bill is not abandoned, the Committee also made a number of recommendations for changes to the Bill. One such recommendation is that reading in powers should be retained. However, the Government’s response to the Committee’s report rejects the recommendation. It states that the Bill is ‘making clear that courts are not required to read legislation in a manner which may be contrary to Parliament’s intent’. This is in spite of the fact that Parliament’s intent, when it introduced the reading in power, was clearly the same as how the power has been used since.

Director of Public Affairs and Policy Richy Thompson commented:

‘We oppose the Rights Removal Bill in its entirety. It takes away most of what the Human Rights Act has done to make human rights in the UK something to be enjoyed, and not just words to be aspired to.

‘We will continue to campaign to save our Human Rights Act, and for the non-religious to be able to enjoy their right to freedom of religion or belief on equal terms with religious people.’

Notes:

For further comment or information, media should contact Humanists UK Director of Public Affairs and Policy Richy Thompson at press@humanists.uk or phone 020 7324 3072 or 020 3675 0959.

Read our submission to the Joint Committee on Human Rights.

Write to your MP about protecting the rights of the non-religious.

Read more about our work on human rights and equality.

Read more about the coalition to protect human rights and judicial review.

Humanists UK is the national charity working on behalf of non-religious people. Powered by 100,000 members and supporters, we advance free thinking and promote humanism to create a tolerant society where rational thinking and kindness prevail. We provide ceremonies, pastoral care, education, and support services benefitting over a million people every year and our campaigns advance humanist thinking on ethical issues, human rights, and equal treatment for all.