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To authenticate to the full-text of this article, please visit this link: http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1467-923X.2009.01997.x Byline: FRANCESCA KLUG (1) Keywords: human rights; bill of rights; Human Rights Act; British constitution Abstract: This article examines the pronouncements and positions of the leading political parties on the Human Rights Act and the proposals for a new British Bill of Rights and Responsibilities. It analyses the main arguments made in support of a British Bill of Rights and Responsibilities, which are advanced around five main issues: security, the judges, parliamentary sovereignty, responsibilities and 'British rights'. The article was written before the government published the Green Paper Rights and Responsibilities: developing our constitutional framework in March 2009 and provides a political context with which to analyse it. Author Affiliation: (1)Professorial Research Fellow at the London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE), based in the Centre for the Study of Global Governance, and is Director of the Human Rights Futures Project.

A legislative debate delved on the issues of culture of liberty in the UK and New Labour party's emphasis on responsibilities rather than rights. The Parliament has been criticized for its failure to create a culture of liberty and to take responsibility for human rights advocacy. A reform of the system has been proposed to create a balance between rights and responsibilities. The legal system also has to undergo extensive evaluation as the clamor to establish the Bill of Rights has strengthened. The establishment of a Commission on Human Rights as consultative body will further boost the government's efforts in human rights promotion and protection.

Issues on morality continue to hound the UK government, and the increasing decline of moral values in the country raised the question of whether the adoption of the Bill of Rights would be the solution to this dilemma. It has been perceived that the Bill of Rights is a fundamental basis for ethical standards and moral responsibilities, which unite society and government around a common set of values. International human rights treaties call for government support in the protection of human rights, but without the protecting law, all efforts would be in vain.

EVERY year, tens of thousands of people ask their Member of Parliament to assert their `rights' across a wide range of legal, social and economic matters. But MPs collectively are [...]

The impact of promoting human rights on the traditional concept of duties on which western civilization is based is discussed. It is argued that human rights have the potential to provided a strong structure for a diverse society.

To authenticate to the full-text of this article, please visit this link: http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1467-923X.2010.02233.x Byline: FRANCESCA KLUG (1) Author Affiliation: (1)Professorial Research Fellow at the LSE and Director of the Human Rights Futures Project.