Does the UK need a Bill of Rights?

The first 200 words of this essay...

Should the Human Rights Act 1998 be changed, and if so, how?

Currently, the matter of whether or not a Bill of Rights should be introduced in Britain is a focal part of the political discussions. This is evident in the current Green Paper, which sets out several points that should be approached in terms of constitutional reform, and the introduction of a Bill of Rights is strongly suggested1. However it is important to consider what can be achieved in terms of a Bill of Rights, as well as looking at the Human Rights Act and seeing why it is deemed insufficient in the area, and whether or not it really is insufficient.

The government outlines several reasons as to why a Bill of Rights should be introduced. Essentially they are claiming that the Human Rights Act is just the initial step in introducing human rights as an integrated part of British culture2. Also, the Human Rights Act has created a lot of negativity from a public point of view and changing it to a Bill of Rights is an effort to make it more publically accepted; a means of 'bringing rights home'3.