Wrong on rights

The European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR), conceived on a continent tormented by fascism and communism, set out the freedoms that were the democratic right of every citizen.

Sadly, in the hands of the 
European Court of Human Rights, the Convention became a means for unaccountable judges to extend and transform the rights in ways that were never intended.

In 2009 the great reforming jurist Lord Hoffman rightly warned that the ECHR was starting to see itself as the equivalent of the US Supreme Court, laying down federal law for Europe.

Recently, former Lord Chief Justice Igor Judge said the ECHR was a threat to democracy and its demand that we must follow its instructions trespassed the bounds of our constitution.

The fact is the Act does not give Strasbourg the right to impose its rule on Britain where the ultimate authority over constitutional and societal questions is vested in Parliament.

(Dr) John Cameron

Howard Place

St Andrews