Enough is enough!
Epping Forest MP Eleanor Laing has told the Government ‘enough is enough’ with regards to peoples’ human rights.
Mrs Laing asked a question of Home Secretary Theresa May during a statement made by the Home Secretary on Abu Qatada, calling on the Government to use its presidency of the Council of Europe to reform the European Court of Human Rights.
Mrs Eleanor Laing (Epping Forest) (Con): Does my right hon. Friend appreciate that we have now reached the point where the vast majority of people right across the country are saying, “Enough is enough”? While we understand the difficulties the Home Secretary faces with the European convention on human rights, the Human Rights Act and so forth, will she reassure the House that the Government will use its presidency of the Council of Europe to seek to reform the European Court of Human Rights?
Mrs May: I am grateful to my hon. Friend, who in a nice way points out that I referred to our chairmanship of the Council of Europe when I should have referred to our presidency. I can absolutely assure her that we are putting considerable effort into the possibility of reform of the European Court and the way it operates. As my hon. Friend will know, the Prime Minister went to Strasbourg and gave a speech to assure people of the reasons why we feel that is necessary. We are, of course, working to bring the other 46 countries along with us in achieving what I am sure all Members want: appropriate reform of the Court.
