Oral Answers to Questions Debate

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Department: Ministry of Justice

Oral Answers to Questions

Greg Mulholland Excerpts
Tuesday 25th April 2017

(7 years, 6 months ago)

Commons Chamber
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Oliver Heald Portrait Sir Oliver Heald
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We do want a British jurisprudence, and that is what we will have following Brexit. Human rights were not invented with the Human Rights Act; this country has been a leading pioneer in human rights since its first gasps of breath as a nation, so there is no reason for us to think that we will not continue to express our values.

Greg Mulholland Portrait Greg Mulholland (Leeds North West) (LD)
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Why are the Government continuing to confuse and, indeed, deceive people by suggesting that the European convention on human rights is anything to do with the EU? It was signed up to by nations that had just come together after the most disastrous war in our history, and it was supported by Winston Churchill. Why can the Minister not support it?

Oliver Heald Portrait Sir Oliver Heald
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I have always tried to uphold the vision expressed by Sir Winston Churchill in his great speech at the Place Kléber, when he spoke up for the need for human rights across Europe, and, of course, he did not mean the EU.

--- Later in debate ---
Phillip Lee Portrait The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Justice (Dr Phillip Lee)
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This case is particularly emotive and has been in the media. As I understand it, clinicians at Great Ormond Street have made a judgment on this case. I think that that should be respected.

Greg Mulholland Portrait Greg Mulholland (Leeds North West) (LD)
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Knowing the huge cross-party support for better justice for victims of criminal driving, will the Minister today commit to bring in the legislation that has been promised before the end of this year if the Government are re-elected?

Elizabeth Truss Portrait Elizabeth Truss
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I understand that the hon. Gentleman has been campaigning on this issue for some time, but we cannot make commitments as we are in purdah.