Very good thread by @rolandmcs.bsky.social on the history of opposition to the ECHR. His conclusion is a call to arms: defenders of the ECHR/HRA - & judicial review more generally - need to explain to all our fellow citizens why they are essential to democracy and the accountability of state power. - ThreadSky

georgeperetzkc.bsky.social • 105 days ago

Very good thread by @rolandmcs.bsky.social on the history of opposition to the ECHR. His conclusion is a call to arms: defenders of the ECHR/HRA - & judicial review more generally - need to explain to all our fellow citizens why they are essential to democracy and the accountability of state power.

Reposted from Roland Smith

Can our 'thick'/inalienable Human Rights be defended? I think so, but be under no illusions that if/when ECHR attacks from populists really start rolling, who would be "on the side of the Bulger killers"?

That's the emotive stuff that'll be thrown around. And it'll need good answers. /ends

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fostersupportcouk.bsky.social•105 days ago

ECHR/HRA is one of our only tools to protect fostering families from mistreatment as they are excluded from all employment rights and protections. Here's a sucessful claim which cost the tax payer £1.34 million pounds. https://www.pressandjournal.co.uk/fp/news/moray/6508754/moray-councils-unacceptable-conduct-raises-significant-concerns-about-children-in-care/

fostersupportcouk.bsky.social•105 days ago

We're looking to launch a new claim. Local Government Ombudsman ruled that LA had failed to consider evidence. Fostering agency admitted investigation was flawed. We've now provided an expert witness report considering the evidence. Response from LA we're not interested we don't care.

alistairsloan.bsky.social•104 days ago

One of the biggest issues is people never think they’ll be the target of other’s hate and dislike. It’s immigrants today, but it won’t be them tomorrow. Of course, history shows us that groups once safe become unsafe.

alistairsloan.bsky.social•104 days ago

They see things like the ECHR protecting groups that they don’t like and do not anticipate that in the future they could very well belong to a group despised by society and in need of those rights.

georgeperetzkc.bsky.social•104 days ago

Well, quite

rolandmcs.bsky.social•105 days ago

Thanks George.

georgeperetzkc.bsky.social•105 days ago

An equally interesting story - paralleling the EU story - is the general* conversion of the Labour Party to support for the ECHR (and judicial review more generally).

rolandmcs.bsky.social•105 days ago

Yes indeed.

georgeperetzkc.bsky.social•105 days ago

I happen to think that that is a logical development of social democratic thinking: but (*) there is a “Lexity” minority that holds to the old Jowitt/JAG Griffiths hostility to judicial power. And as you say in government things can get strained.

paolosandro.bsky.social•105 days ago

Hostility to judicial power *and* supranationalism

georgeperetzkc.bsky.social•105 days ago

Pretty much interlinked, of course.

georgeperetzkc.bsky.social•105 days ago

Also - as for the EU - for a lot of LP members and MPs support is a bit unreflective and therefore insecure (certainly in the sense of being able persuasively to articulate with conviction and clarity why they are Good Things).

georgeperetzkc.bsky.social•105 days ago

It needs updating but I had a bash a few years ago for @thefabians.bsky.social at explaining why. https://fabians.org.uk/held-to-account-2/

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