Lords highlights importance of rule of law

Debate

Baroness Smith of Cluny (Labour), Advocate General for Scotland, put forward the debate.

This was a general debate. During debates, members put their experience to good use to discuss current issues and draw the government's attention to concerns.      

Members speaking

Contributing members included:

• Lord Kakkar (Crossbench), former chair of the Judicial Appointments Commission
• Lord Keen of Elie (Conservative), barrister and former dean of the Faculty of Advocates
• Baroness Kennedy of The Shaws (Labour), barrister and president of law reform charity, Justice
• Lord Marks of Henley-on-Thames (Liberal Democrat), barrister and arbitrator.

During the debate, Lord Wolfson of Tredegar said:

'We do the rule of law a disservice if we try to cram within it any and every social good. Not every social good is a human right, and not all human rights are part of the rule of law.'

Lord Hermer (Labour), Attorney General, responded on behalf of the government:

'Fundamental human rights reflect what underlies rules and what underlies our systems: our belief in the fundamental dignity of our fellow human being and the need for laws to protect it.'

Catch up

• Watch the Parliament TV recording.
• Read the Lords Hansard transcript.

Explore background information  

• Find out more about the issues the debate covers in the House of Lords Library briefing.  
• Learn more about how the House of Lords checks and challenges government. 

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