Should rights in the UK be protected by a British Bill of Rights

Question 1

reasons for HoL reform

Answer 1

• Not elected – Members are chosen, not voted for by the public.
• Hereditary peers – Some still inherit their seats by birth.
• No accountability – Members can’t be voted out or removed easily.
• Too large – It’s one of the biggest chambers in the world.
• Costs too much – Expensive to run.
• Political bias – Appointments can reward party loyalty, not ability.
• Lacks diversity – Doesn’t fully reflect UK society.
• Unclear role – Power is sometimes too much or too little.
• Outdated – Seen as old-fashioned for a modern democracy.
• Public support – Many people want change.

Question 2

reasons against HoL reform

Answer 2

• Expertise and experience – Many Lords have deep knowledge in law, business, science, etc.
• Independent thinking – Less party pressure means more honest debate.
• Good at revising laws – It improves legislation by spotting mistakes.
• Works well now – “If it’s not broken, don’t fix it.”
• Avoids election politics – Members focus on law, not re-election.
• Provides balance – Acts as a check on the elected Commons.
• Reform is risky – Changing it might cause unintended problems.
• Cost of reform – Reform could be expensive and complex.
• Tradition matters – It’s part of the UK’s historic system.
• Partial reforms already done – Like cutting most hereditary peers.

Question 3

reasons for Bill of Rights

Answer 3

• More control for UK courts – Reduces influence of the European Court of Human Rights.
• Clarifies rights – Makes rights and responsibilities clearer for citizens
• Reflects British values – Tailored to the UK’s legal and political traditions.
• Increases accountability – Strengthens the role of Parliament over unelected judges.
• Updates the law – Replaces the older Human Rights Act (1998) with something modern
• Stops misuse – Prevents people (e.g. criminals) from using rights laws to avoid justice.
• Boosts public confidence – Seen as more “home-grown” and democratic.

Question 4

reasons against British Bill of Rights

Answer 4

• Weakens existing protections – May reduce rights currently guaranteed by the Human Rights Act (1998).
• Threat to judicial independence – Could limit courts’ ability to defend individual rights.
• Politicizes human rights – Rights may be shaped by political agendas, not universal principles.
• Creates confusion – A new system might be unclear or inconsistent.
• Unnecessary – The current system already protects rights effectively.
• Damages UK’s international image – Could be seen as stepping back from global human rights standards.
• Disrupts devolution – Might conflict with rights laws in Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland.