Human rights are no longer a “top priority” for the Government

[tay]

Britain’s most senior Foreign Office official has admitted, as ministers put resources into supporting trade deals ahead of tackling injustice in other parts of the world. In a remarkably frank admission to MPs, Sir Simon McDonald, Permanent Secretary at the Foreign Office, said that human rights no longer had the “profile” within his department that they had “in the past”.

And he added that the Conservatives’ “prosperity agenda” was now “further up the list” of areas on which the department was concentrating its dwindling resources.

Last night human rights charities said Sir Simon’s comments were as “astonishing as they were alarming” and described the change in focus as “deeply regrettable”.

His comments suggest that the Foreign Office has substantially altered it priorities since Philip Hammond was appointed as Foreign Secretary last year.

His predecessor, William Hague, pledged in 2011 that there would be “no downgrading of human rights” under his watch, adding that “pursuing a foreign policy with a conscience is the right thing to do” and was in the “long-term enlightened national interest of our country”.

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Human rights are no longer a 'top priority' for the Government, says Foreign Office chief | UK Politics | News | The Independent

 

[Blackleaf]

The British Government should crack on with their task of abolishing the lamentable Human Rights Act.

 

[Tecumsehsbones]

I think a better headline would be "Britain No Longer Pretending Human Rights Are a Priority."

 

[Ludlow]

I think a better headline would be "Britain No Longer Pretending Human Rights Are a Priority."

Yeah,,Hey, look at us we're good guys.

 

[Blackleaf]

It's time to abolish the Human Rights Act.

 

[tay]

It's time to abolish the Human Rights Act.

Jeremy Corbyn demands human rights adviser in every embassy across the world

Jeremy Corbyn says Labour party defence review will cover "much more than defence".

In his response to the Government's Strategic Defence and Security review, which was set out by David Cameron in the House of Commons, the Labour leader said his party's own defence review will cover "much more than defence".

It will include peace-keeping, conflict resolution and peace-building missions, Mr Corbyn said.

Mr Cameron announced a £12bn boost in the defence equipment budget , which will rise to £178bn, the creation of two 5,000-strong rapid "strike brigades" to deal with unconventional threats such as Isis and also revealed that the cost of replacing Britain's Trident nuclear deterrent will rise by £6bn.

But Mr Corbyn hit out at the "severe cut" in the foreign office budget, claiming it threatened the UK's global reputation.

Mr Corbyn said: "Our review will question the wisdom of British arm sales to repressive regimes with links to the funding of terrorism and be firmly-founded on the importance of human rights across the world. It will recognise that security is about much more than defence and look to fulfill the huge potential this country has to lead the way in peace-keeping, conflict resolution and peace-building.

Jeremy Corbyn demands human rights adviser in every embassy across the world | UK Politics | News | The Independent

 

[taxslave]

ANything to provide government jobs is good with the left.

 

[Blackleaf]

I hope the Tories scrap the Human Rights Act.