The ECHR and all that

Another day, and yet more fresh calls, from people who should now better, that the UK should leave, or consider leaving, the European Convention on HUman Rights. This is because the UK Government is thwarted by legal cases each time it tries to break either domestic or international law.

Let me say that the first task for any Goverment is to obey the laws, treaties and conventions it has passed into legislation or willingly signed up to.

The second point is this:

The Good Friday Agreement (GFA) explicitly states that it is underpinned by the ECHR and the Northern Irish people will be protected by it.

So, unless the UK GOvernment wants either to break the GFA or renegotiate it with Ireland and the US, then its just grandstanding.

And yet it is on the front pages of several papers this morning, the ones you would expect, and yet none seem to mention the practical difficilties in doing so.

Which typifies Goverment policy making: say something that appeals to the headcases in the ERG or UKIP, then fnd its way too difficult so the policies fades away, only to be brought back at regular intervals whenever the cutlure wars are being lost.

I would like to have a Government that thought more about policy, thought about the risk and opportunities and the consequencies of what they propose, then have Minister competent enough to actully enact the policies.