Magna Carta call on Human Rights Act

Hull East MP Karl Turner, the Shadow Solicitor General, is among nine signatories to a Labour letter calling on the Prime Minister to perform a U-turn.

Mr Cameron effectively put his proposals on hold when, amid opposition from some Tory MPs. he backed away from including a commitment to legislate in the Queen’s Speech which followed the Conservatives’ election victory.

Instead the Government has said it will publish a consultation paper on its commitment to repeal the Human Rights Act - which enshrines the European Convention on Human Rights in British law - and replace it with a UK bill of rights.

Labour’s letter, also signed by former director of public prosecutions and now MP Keir Starmer, said: “Human rights are part of, not at variance with, our British values and they matter for our place in the world.”

Acting Labour leader Harriet Harman used a speech in London to promise the party would lead efforts to defend the Human Rights Act.

“We believe that, together, we can prevent the Government eroding human rights. Their policy is intellectually incoherent and, worse, it’s wrong in principle. Though Labour is in opposition, not in government, we believe that in this case, on an issue of such profound importance, they can and should be held back.”