The new sovereigntism: what it means for human rights law in the UK

Brexit relates to a new sovereigntism that has alarming implications for the rule of law, argues Fiona de Londras (University of Birmingham). Although the European Convention on Human Rights is not an EU law – and therefore unaffected by leaving – there are striking parallels between pro-Brexit and anti-ECHR arguments. The prisoner voting saga is one area where Westminster has decided national sovereignty should trump European human rights law. The row over whether armed forces must always comply with the Convention is another.

• Primary Source

ESO: In Focus: Brexit - The United Kingdom and the European Union http://www.europeansources.info/record/brexit-the-united-kingdom-and-the-european-union/

Blog: EU Law Analysis, September 2017: Learning to let go – the Charter of Fundamental Rights after Brexit http://www.europeansources.info/record/learning-to-let-go-the-charter-of-fundamental-rights-after-brexit/

United Kingdom: House of Commons: Library: Briefing Paper, No.8049 (31.07.17): UK cases at the European Court of Human Rights since 1975 http://www.europeansources.info/record/uk-cases-at-the-european-court-of-human-rights-since-1975/

Social Europe, April 2017: The ECHR And EU—UK Relations (et al) http://www.europeansources.info/record/the-echr-and-eu-uk-relations/

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