Recommendation 29

While the proposal to introduce a new permission stage will only have an impact on human rights claims in which no significant disadvantage has been suffered, it will still prevent meritorious claims, potentially affecting many individuals, being heard. Legislating to establish a class of permissible human rights violations, and restricting human rights claims in a manner that does not apply to legal claims brought on other grounds, undermines the UK’s commitment to uphold human rights. The Government should reconsider whether introducing the permission stage will achieve its aims, and whether it would leave the UK in breach of its international obligations. Unless the Government is prepared to reconsider clause 15, we would like to see it removed from the Bill (see Annex, Amendment 13).