The only definitive way to recover control of human rights is to withdraw from the EU.
Dear Sir
The 800th Anniversary of the sealing of Magna Carta is timely, for it
reminds us that England has been involved in what we now call ‘human rights’ for
even longer than that.
Anglo-Saxon Kings of England were guaranteeing the right of access to the
courts before the Conquest, a right which is clearly part of the modern human
rights canon.
The evolution of our traditional rights and liberties since those early
beginnings underpins our Constitution, our politics and our culture.
Now our human rights are in the hands of Continental judges who know
little of and care even less for our long history of liberty and Common Law. It
should be the British people and our Parliament which builds on that heritage
and upholds our rights and liberties.
However whilst we remain members of the EU, this can never be so. Article
6.2 of the Treaty on European Union commits the EU to accede in its own right to
the European Convention on Human Rights.
When it does so, the Convention will become undeniably part of EU primary
law which, by virtue of Section 2 of the European Communities Act 1972, will in
turn be fully binding upon the United Kingdom. We might withdraw from the
European Convention ourselves, yet still be bound by it along this
route.
The only definitive way to recover control of human rights is to withdraw
from the EU.
Yours sincerely
Jonathan Arnott
