European Convention on Human Rights

Lord Clinton-Davis Excerpts

Thursday 7th March 2013 Lords Chamber

Asked By

[Lord Clinton-Davis]

To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they have any plans to withdraw from the European Convention on Human Rights.

[Lord Clinton-Davis]

My Lords, as the only male to have the temerity to be on the list today, I beg leave to ask the Question standing in my name on the Order Paper.

[The Minister of State, Ministry of Justice (Lord McNally)]

I am not going there, my Lords.

The Answer to the Question is no.

[Lord Clinton-Davis]

Did not the Home Secretary argue recently that the next Tory election manifesto should include a pledge to withdraw from the European Convention on Human Rights, thus reflecting the views of many Conservative MPs? Was that not described by the former Justice Secretary as “laughable and childlike”? Does not this division on a serious issue of policy show evidence of a hopeless split in the Conservative-led Government today?

[Lord McNally]

My Lords, I speak at this Dispatch Box for the coalition Government and the coalition Government’s policy on the European Convention on Human Rights is very clear. The noble Lord asked a specific question, “Is it our policy to withdraw?”, and I gave him a specific Answer: “The Answer is no”.