Human Rights: Spending Cuts

Lord Clinton-Davis Excerpts

Thursday 7th October 2010 Lords Chamber

Asked By

[Lord Clinton-Davis]

To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether there will be any spending cuts affecting human rights.

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

My Lords, we are committed to protecting human rights and restoring civil liberties in the UK, but all our priorities will have to be addressed in a very difficult fiscal context. We will make decisions about how we will achieve our aims after the results of the comprehensive spending review are known on 20 October.

[Lord Clinton-Davis]

What I would have liked to have heard from the Minister is a clear undertaking that human rights internationally would not be affected. This represents, does it not, an invaluable initiative of the late Robin Cook. Can they not see that the protection of international human rights is part and parcel of our security? Is it any small wonder that charities and many MPs of all parties are furious about the possibility that this will come under attack? Is it not right to contrast the way in which the Labour Government supported human rights with this coalition’s comparative indifference?

[Lord McNally]

My Lords, I think that I can give no better answer than to quote a speech by the Foreign Secretary on 15 September—a speech which I commend to all Members of this House. In it, he said:

“There will be no downgrading of human rights under this Government”.