Conservative plans to scrap human rights laws and make Strasbourg rulings advisory would have “devastating consequences”, the government’s former attorney-general said last night.
Dominic Grieve, QC, said that the move would be damaging for the UK and for human rights across Europe.
He said that non-compliance with the European Convention on Human Rights would call into question the devolution settlements for Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, which all enshrined convention rights.
Westminster could change the position but this might be against the will of the devolved administrations, he said.
“At a time when the future of the United Kingdom is still in question and the peace settlement in Northern Ireland still fragile, it opens the prospect of a new area of political discord,” he said