A cross-party group of MPs and peers has told the Independent Human Rights Act Review that there is no case for reform as it closes its call for evidence. 

Publishing its response to the review’s call, the Joint Committee on Human Rights said the act strikes a careful balance, respecting the UK’s constitutional arrangements and upholding the rule of law. ‘Even relatively minor, technical changes risk upsetting this balance. Moreover, despite these previous attempts at reform, no case for reform has been established’, the committee says in its letter to Sir Peter Gross, who is leading the review.

The committee is conducting its own inquiry and found that the 1998 act respects parliamentary sovereignty, does not draw the UK courts into making decisions which should be made by parliament and government, and provides an important mechanism which allows people to enforce their rights.

Harriet Harman MP

Harriet Harman QC MP

Harriet Harman QC MP, chair of the committee said: ‘The key thing about the Human Rights Act is that it has meant UK courts judging human rights rather than only European judges. Giving our courts a role in enforcing the rights given in the European Convention on Human Rights, has enabled individuals to enforce their rights, has added a UK judicial perspective on the ECHR and meant that there are now hardly any European Court rulings against the UK government.

‘The attention to human rights in guidance and training has made the ECHR rights a reality in a way they never were before. Evidence to us confirms that the Human Rights Act has worked well. Our message to the government review of the Human Rights Act is “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it!”.’

The review’s call for evidence closed yesterday. It is due to report to government by the summer.