In the first week of taking office, our newly elected government has prioritised an agenda to remove the keystone of human rights in this country and dismantle vital legal protections for each and every citizen. We, the undersigned, wish to express our opposition to the Government’s plans to extend the surveillance state, weaken Freedom of […]
May 15, 2015In the first week of taking office, our newly elected government has prioritised an agenda to remove the keystone of human rights in this country and dismantle vital legal protections for each and every citizen. We, the undersigned, wish to express our opposition to the Government’s plans to extend the surveillance state, weaken Freedom of Information legislation and, above all, its declared intent to repeal the 1998 Human Rights Act.
We are deeply concerned at the implications for individuals and institutions, not least because the European Convention of Human Rights forms a fundamental part of the devolution settlements for Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. Repealing the 1998 Act would, we believe, undermine key elements of constitutional relationships within the UK, and have ramifications for our place within the European Union. The Government has yet to publish any significant detail on its proposed ‘British Bill of Rights’ but we are alarmed by the ‘extremist’ language being used by ministers and their supporters in certain sections of the fourth estate. It is clear, however, that these plans represent a major transfer of power away from ordinary citizens and towards the state, corporations and large vested interests, including a diminution of the rights of individuals to sue governments.
Our free press enjoys many legal protections based on its historic function of holding governments and power to account. With these plans certain to place the basis of our civil rights under huge duress, we call on our free press to fulfil this essential, historic role as a defender of our freedoms.
All of our human rights have been under almost continuous assault since the turn of this century. Removal of the Human Rights Act will have many and unforeseen consequences but in the context of an already imminent increase in powers of surveillance and tightening anti-terrorist laws, the introduction of new legal definitions makes free speech more vulnerable than at any time since 1945. Scottish PEN will work with English PEN, Wales PEN Cymru and other PEN centres and human rights organisations across Europe to oppose the repeal of the Human Rights Act – including any consequent attempt by the British Government to withdraw from the European Convention of Human Rights.
As writers, we believe the right to free expression is fundamental to a healthy society and its relationship to the wider world. We will defend that right and all associated freedoms against attack from any vested interest or government body. We hope others will join us.
Signed:
Drew Campbell, President, Scottish PEN
Council of the Scottish Society of Playwrights
Caroline Adams
Jim Aitken
Andrew Anderson
Lin Anderson
Jane Archer
Neal Ascherson
Nick Barley
Martin Bates
Gillian Beattie-Smith
Alan Bissett
Rose Black
Ricky Brown
Maoilios Caimbeul
Jenni Calder
Karen Campbell
J Caplan
Aimee Chalmers
Martin Chick
Regi Claire
A C Clarke
Jo Clifford
Stewart Conn
Anne Connolly
Linda Cracknell
Ian Crockatt
Anna Crowe
Roy Dalgleish (Linlithgow Book Festival)
Claudia Daventry
Christine De Luca
Meaghan Delahunt
TM Devine
Colin Donati
Anne Donovan
Anne Dunford
Etta Dunn
Mary Edward
Nadine Edwards
Suzanne Egerton
Margaret Elphinstone
Vicki Feaver
Matthew Fitt
Una Leonie Flett
Moira Forsyth
Dr Peta Freestone
Iain Galbraith
Alan Gay
Kay Goodall
Mark O. Goodwin
Fiona Graham
Maggie Graham (Scottish Writers’ Centre)
Alasdair Gray
Stephanie Green
Diana Hendry
Brian Holton
Jules Horne
Tom Hubbard
Janet Ireland
Paula Jennings
Brian Johnstone
Carole Jones
Billy Kay
James Kelman (non-member)
Mark Leggatt
Joan Lennon
Joan Lingard
Robin Lloyd-Jones
Gerry Loose
Katrina Lovie
Mary MacDonald
Dr Margaret A Mackay
Ann E MacKinnon
Iseabail Macleod
Aonghas MacNeacail
Kona Macphee
Graeme Macrae Burnet
Susie Maguire
Robyn Marsack
Lynsey May
Ann Mcbain
Mary McCabe
Alexander McCall Smith
David McDonald
Anthony McGowan
Jane McKie
Mei-Ling McNamara
Linda Menzies
Greg Michaelson
Alison Miller
Hazel Morrison
Andrew Murray Scott
Maureen Myant
Helena Nelson
Liz Niven
Tom Pow
Chris Powici
Faith Pullin
Ian Rankin
Dr Mario Relich
Alan Riach
Lesley Riddoch
Fiona Rintoul
James Robertson
Frank Rodgers
Dilys Rose
Margaret Ryan
Chrys Salt MBE
Andrew Sclater
Sue Reid Sexton
Mary Smith
Dennis Smith
Claire Squires
Gerda Stevenson
Maureen Stewart
Chiew-Siah Tei
Don Toonen
Shelagh Toonen
Zoe Venditozzi
Harry D. Watson
Louise Welsh
Zoe Wicomb
Jennifer Williams
Les Wilson
Douglas Stuart Wilson
Fiona Wilson