This Week in Westminster - 5 July 2022
Westminster is awash with more allegations of harassment and cover-ups, after the Conservative Deputy Chief Whip resigned last week.
To the casual follower of politics, they may get the impression that MPs spend more time defending themselves from scandals and sleaze, while ordinary people are struggling with the rising cost of living.
While this is a fair assessment to make as a result of the news headlines, there have been some important announcements about upcoming legislation.
‘Bill of Rights’
The Conservative Party for over a decade has pledged to revoke the Human Rights Act and replace it with a Bill of Rights. Although it had been in manifestos of successive Conservative Leaders, it is only now that we’re seeing a Bill enter the UK Parliament with the aim of replacing the Human Rights Act. Many organisations, including BASW, have united to loudly oppose this legislation.
Draft Mental Health Bill
The Government has also published its Draft Mental Health Bill.
This is a draft Bill, and it will be scrutinised by MPs and Lords ahead of a final Bill being published and sent through the formal parliamentary stages.
The Bill seeks to:
- reform the Mental Health Act
- improve the way that people with a learning disability and autistic people are treated in law
The UK Parliament will go into recess on the 21 July, with MPs heading back to their constituencies and spending time with their families.
Policy announcements will quieten down over the summer, but when Parliament returns in Autumn, it’ll be full steam ahead with the Bill of Rights and Draft Mental Health Bill.