The Conservative Party proposal to repeal the Human Rights Act is dangerous proposal, and one that should be vigorously opposed.
The Human Rights Act enshrines rights that which we as a society have fought hard to build and protect over centuries. These rights have often been hard-won, often from Government. It is Government which has most to fear from the Human Rights Act, as it is a tool to protect individual citizens from arbitrary, unfair decisions and ensure due process of law. It is regularly used to ensure that rape victims and victims of domestic violence receive justice, that soldiers are adequately protected, and that overly intrusive laws are struck down, and so much else. For all the frustrations it represents for Government, this is very much a good thing.
More fundamentally, it represents and brings into British law the European Convention on Human Rights- a convention inspired and delivered by Winston Churchill’s Government. He had seen rights trampled in his time, and he wanted to make sure that they were protected as best we could. We are international leaders on human rights issues, as the country that spawned Amnesty International and so many other human rights organisations. We would squander that legacy if we believe that we could just amend human rights legislation at will
I sincerely hope that John Howell, as a member of the Justice Select Committee, does not approve this change.
Sam Juthani
Labour Party prospective parliamentary candidate for the Henley constituency
Twice this week I have had a heated exchange with pedestrians insisting that the SPEED BUMP outside the town hall is their right of way. It is not a pedestrian crossing! At no other random point on the road would people just cross in the expectation that cars will be anticipating this. Some drivers are exacerbating the situation by stopping and allowing people to cross. This is encouraging even more idiots too lazy to use the pelican crossing metres away.
They are putting themselves and drivers at risk.
The bumps at either side merely indicate to sight impaired users that the elevation to the road is the same as the pavement.
There are no road or path markings which indicate this is a pedestrian crossing. Perhaps the clever people behind the roundabout zebra at Esso could fashion an “inconsiderate idiots crossing” warning to drivers too.
Kelly Hinton, Thame