Informing the debate
A bill of rights would be a momentous constitutional development. It would shape our legal and political culture for years to come. The issues are complex and contentious. Only with thorough analysis and debate can we decide if a bill of rights is good for Britain.
A British Bill of Rights: Informing the debate deliberately avoids setting out a particular vision. Instead, it clearly lays out the issues that will need to be addressed in a proper public consideration of the subject:
Content – what should be in a bill of rights?
Amendment – should a bill of rights have special protection from amendment or repeal?
Adjudication and enforcement – what powers should the courts have to uphold protected values?
Process – how should we debate and decide on these matters?
A British Bill of Rights: Informing the debate is the final report of the JUSTICE constitution committee – a group of eminent experts on constitutional issues. The report draws on a wealth of experience of countries that have already enacted bills of rights – from Europe, North America, Australasia and Africa.
A British Bill of Rights: Informing the debate is the report of the JUSTICE constitution committee
Professor Kate Malleson (chair)
Professor Vernon Bogdanor CBE FBA
Professor Anthony Bradley
Professor Ross Cranston QC
Lord Goodhart QC
Professor Carol Harlow
Professor Robert Hazell
Professor Jeffrey Jowell QC
Lord Kingsland QC TD DL
Professor Francesca Klug OBE
Lord Lester QC*
Professor Andrew Le Sueur
Alexandra Marks
Professor Martin Partington CBE
Professor Alan Paterson
Jessica Simor
*Lord Lester retired from the committee on his appointment as constitutional advisor to the Secretary of State for Justice
Published: 19 November 2007
ISBN: 978 0 907247 43 2
Format and extent: A4, 168pp
Price: £9.99 (£8.99 for JUSTICE members) or download free below
Author
The JUSTICE Constitution Committee
Published
19 November 2007