The Commission, chaired by Sir Leigh Lewis, was established to consider reform of Britain’s membership of the European Convention of Human Rights (ECHR), and to investigate the PM’s idea for a UK Bill of Rights.
Seven of the nine commission members said that there is a strong argument in favour of a UK Bill of Rights that builds on the UK’s obligations under the ECHR. But two of the nine members of the panel opposed them, arguing that establishing a UK Bill of Rights carries a risk of “decoupling” from the ECHR.
The seven members favouring a UK Bill of Rights were also split amongst themselves on whether the current Human Rights Act provided a good model for a British Bill of Rights. All seven did, however, believe that a British Bill of Rights would allow for greater protection than the ECHR against possible abuses of power by the government.
The two opposition members, Helena Kennedy and Philippe Sands, believe that it is not the right time for a British Bill, and that the other seven members have failed to identify shortcomings in the existing Human Rights Act.