The resignation of Dominic Raab as secretary of state for justice on Friday 21 April will not be regretted by those of us who oppose the policies he and his government have been pursuing to weaken the rule of law and the protection of human rights. These policies, foreshadowed in the Conservative party 2019 election manifesto, include the repeal of the Human Rights Act 1998, limiting the obligation of the UK to comply with the terms of the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR), and undermining the independence of the judiciary by allowing the executive greater power over judicial appointments (see my earlier articles: ‘Raab & human rights: moving in the wrong direction?’, 172 NLJ 7963, p7, and ‘Law & politics: a two-pronged attack?’ 172 NLJ 8005, p6).
Uncertain futures
The Bill of Rights Bill was promoted by Raab and introduced in June 2022, but abandoned
