Tories prioritise removing human rights

20 September 2013

A survey of Conservatives has revealed that most consider withdrawal from the European Convention of Human Rights a ‘non-negotiable’ should they be forced to agree another Coalition with the Liberal Democrats.

Tory-friendly blog Conservative Home asked more than 800 members of the Conservative Party about their top “red-line” issues for negotiations with the Liberal Democrats in the next election.

“Britain should leave the ECHR” scored seven on a scale that ranged from one representing “very negotiable” to 10 for “non negotiable”.

The top priorities for the Tories was holding a referendum of EU membership in 2017 and attempting to renegotiate Britain’s relationship with the EU, which both scored 8.5.

Although there is disagreement among left-wing academics and campaigners in relation to Britain’s relationship with the EU – especially due to the recent tendency of the European Court of Justice to decide in favour of the Right of Establishment (business) over the Right of Assembly (workers) – the EHRC has an important role in protecting workers’ rights, including pay, conditions, disputes, redundancy, working hours, retirement, equality and trade union rights.