New Herald Column: Westminster and Holyrood must get their act together on human rights

New Herald Column: Westminster and Holyrood must get their act together on human rights

The Consortium has written an opinion piece in The Herald newspaper, calling on both the UK and Scottish Governments to demonstrate human rights leadership.

The incorporation of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child is already having positive impacts in Scotland. However, the limits of Scotland's devolution arrangement with Westminster meant that the Act is limited in its scope. The Consortium is concerned that this devolution problem will negatively affect Scotland's new Human Rights Bill too.

Scotland's Human Rights Bill will incorporate 4 more international human rights treaties into domestic law, and will help to make economic, social and cultural rights a reality for everyone living in Scotland. It will be a huge step forwards in human rights protection, and it would be deeply regrettable if the Bill did not reach its full potential because of a problem with the scope of devolution.

During the recent General Election campaign, Keir Starmer promised a "reset" of devolution, which we believe is essential in order for human rights law to be effective in Scotland. We have written to the Scottish Secretary Ian Murray to ask him to amend the Scotland Act as soon as possible, to restore and reset devolution and allow for human rights to be strengthened.

However, we are also urging the Scottish Government not to take their foot off the pedal either. The Government promised to pass the Human Rights Bill by May 2026, so must work quickly to introduce it soon. Embedding human rights in domestic law is key to tackling the First Minister's highest priorities- child poverty and improving public services- so we urge his Government to act fast.

We are calling on both Governments to do what they each can, and to work together, to reset devolution and realise human rights in Scotland.

Click here to read the column in full, in The Herald

Want to know more?

• Read 'Incorporating International Human Rights: The Implications of the UNCRC (Incorporation) (Scotland) Bill Reference for the Scottish Human Rights Bill' by Professor Aileen McHarg
• Read our blog, calling on the new UK Government to urgently restore devolution
• Read our briefing about the Scottish Human Rights Bill