General Chat

So which of these would you be happy to junk in creating a UK Bill of Rights ?
Would you add anything?
Which of these, if any, do you think have already been seriously compromised in the UK of today?

1. Right to life
2. Freedom from torture and inhuman or degrading treatment
3. Right to liberty and security
4. Freedom from slavery and forced labour
5. Right to a fair trial
6. No punishment without law
7. Respect for your private and family life, home and correspondence
8. Freedom of thought, belief and religion
9. Freedom of expression
10. Freedom of assembly and association
11. Right to marry and start a family
12. Protection from discrimination in respect of these rights and freedoms
13. Right to peaceful enjoyment of your property
14. Right to education
15. Right to participate in free elections

The vast majority of those who voted didn't vote for the Tories.
As for which 'Rights' I believe have already been compromised:

2 and 4, by Making the unemployed to 'voluntary' work, as if they need to be punished.
6, 7 and 13, by the introduction of the 'Bedroom Tax'. Punished for not being able to afford to buy your council house. a person is then forced to pay extra for every 'spare' room you have, or to move into an unavailable one-bedroom property (soon to be extended to private rentals) . A rented house, is apparently not a home, just a house, not 'your' property - even though you may have a lifetime tenancy agreement, and live there for over 30 years.
8. If you are of the 'wrong' religion
10 The right to protest has been severely curtailed
14 State schools are being underfunded, and more funding goes to 'free' schools - but for how long will they be 'free'?

You are right Maggie, they got less than 37% of the votes, i think we need a right to have a fair vote..

I think many people are very miffed, Stella. :-|

In 2005 the Labour Party only got 36% of the vote. Your comments please.

Precisely.

Figures to suit for some.

Now I do not have any problem with the principles of the HRA, which are in themselves fair and reasonable, I do however have a problem with what the Act does not cover, which is Personal Responsibility. so let us look at two examples

1. Right to Life. Tell that to the families off victims murdered or beaten to death by toe rags, and wasters, who are then protected by this Act.

2.. Freedom from Torture and Inhumane or degrading treatment. Tell that to the children who suffer dire treatment, or, are killed by feckless parents or, partners on a regular basis in this country, but yet again protected.

I do not vote Conservative, but I do believe if you have rights then you also have responsibility, thus if you abuse another persons rights, you should lose any rights you have, under this Act.

With 'Rights' comes (personal) 'Responsibility'. How that could be incorporated is any ones's guess.

edit - the post above wasn't there when this one was being composed.
There are some sectors of UK society who would demand that their 'Rights' are respected, either expecting society/government fund them, at the same time ignoring the 'Rights' of others.

Rights and responsibilities should never be confused.

Once you go down the route of saying that anyone who commits a crime then loses all rights, then you go down a very dangerous route.

Even if you abuse another person's rights, you should still be entitled to certain rights such as fair justice.

Otherwise you go down the "eye for an eye" trail which in itself has no place in a fair and just country.

Bob/Errol,
In 2005 there were fewer parties.
Under the current system, in 2005
Lab Con Lib Dem
% votes 35.2 32.4 22.0
No Seats 355 198 62

2010
% votes 29 36.1 23
No Seats 258 307 57

2015
Lab Con Lib Dem
% votes 30.4 36.9 7.9
No Seats 232 331 8

So, the Tories got .8% more of the votes in 2015 than in 2010 - when they had to form a coalition. Hardly a sweeping win is it?
In 2005, Labour won a lot more seats than anyone else, though 35.2% of the votes is the lowest majority in history. The whole thing shows how useless 'first past the post' is, especially when boundaries can be changed to suit political parties.

Tables don't come out on this board very well, do they?