Ritchie Says Repeal Of Human Rights Act Threatens Good Friday Agreement

South Down MP Margaret Ritchie has warned that the Tory Government’s plans to repeal the Human Rights Act would have serious implications for peace in Northern Ireland and for the Good Friday Agreement in a Westminster debate on the future of the Human Rights Act. Ms Ritchie said: “The Committee for the Administration of Justice rightly highlighted the implications that the repeal of the Human Rights Act would have on the Good Friday Agreement. The Human Rights Act is enshrined in the provisions of the Good Friday Agreement and, as co-signatories, the UK Government has a responsibility to uphold it. “Any breach of human rights legislation or any plans to withdraw it is tantamount to a breach of the Good Friday Agreement and the Northern Ireland Act 1998. The UK Government has made virtually no reference to this to date. I will be tabling questions to Justice Secretary Michael Gove asking him to outline what considerations he has given to Northern Ireland and the Good Friday Agreement in these plans. “The SDLP is a party founded on campaigning for civil and human rights and we will not stand idly by and allow the Good Friday Agreement and peace in Northern Ireland to unravel,” added Ms Ritchie.