Initially criticised as an alien ‘transplant’ from Strasbourg law, the Act has in fact embedded itself within the UK’s constitutional framework, he argues. Rather than unsettling parliamentary sovereignty, it has strengthened scrutiny through ministerial compatibility statements, judicial review of secondary legislation and declarations of incompatibility. Courts have used s 3 interpretation powers robustly, ensuring statutes are read compatibly with rights ‘so far as possible’, while remedies under s 6 and s 8 fit broadly within established domestic frameworks.
Mills notes the Act’s impact has been profound yet legally orthodox, with tensions largely political rather than legal. The Human Rights Act, he concludes, has not upset the constitutional order but has bolstered rights protection and shifted debate towards whether the UK should remain within the ECHR.
