Labour HRA warning

Emergency legislation shortly to be introduced by the government following the US terrorist attacks is likely to omit Human Rights Act (HRA) compliance, delegates at the Labour Party conference heard this week.Stepping in for Solicitor-General Harriet Harman QC at the Law Society's fringe meeting in Brighton - but broadly speaking from Ms Harman's intended speech - barrister Vera Baird, MP for Redcar, said any military action would be taken under article 24 of the UN charter, which allows force in cases of self-defence.She said the government is likely not to attach HRA compliance certificates to any emergency domestic legislation, but added that she was empowered by Ms Harman to say that no legislation has yet been put before government legal officers.Ms Baird added that domestic legislation already alluded to by ministers would raise clear issues under the European Convention on Human Rights - notably extradition to a country (such as the US) which has the death penalty.Also speaking at the meeting - chaired by Labour solicitor peer Lord Temple-Morris - Law Society President David McIntosh said he was encouraged by Prime Minister Tony Blair's talk of a proportionate response to the events in America.But he said that before the outrage, legislation was already proposed which threatened to erode rights, such as those to end the double jeopardy rule.

He said: 'The Law Society will support the government but we will be on the case to watch for any civil rights issues.'

Jeremy Fleming