Exploration of English Law

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Exploration of English Law In English law, there is no formal separation of public and private

law, no constitutional court and before the enactment of the Human

Rights Act 1998 there has been no catalogue of fundamental rights as

it can be found in many continental European constitutional documents.

The major source of fundamental rights in English law is now

undoubtedly the Human Rights Act 1998 (HRA) which implements the

European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR) into English law, which

came into force on 2 October 2000.

In accordance with the doctrine of parliamentary sovereignty, the HRA

has no higher status than other Acts of Parliament. It is not possible

for courts to override primary legislation that is incompatible with

convention rights, or to declare it unconstitutional. This is

portrayed in s 4 of the act which empowers the courts to declare that

primary legislation is incompatible with the ECHR. This declaration,

however, does not affect the validity, continuing operation and

enforcement of the provision in question which remains even applicable

to the case in question.

The primary responsibility for ensuring compliance with the Convention

is placed on ‘public authorities’, s. 6 HRA 1998. Section 6 (1) of the

Human Rights Act states that ‘it is unlawful for a public authority

to act in a way which is incompatible with a convention right’.

Section 6 (3) (b) further provides that ‘public authority’ includes

‘any person certain of whos...

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...plar Housing and Regeneration Community Association Ltd v

Donoghue [2001] 33HLR 823-846

[3] [2004] UKHL56

[4] Schedule to the Human Rights Act 1998 (Designated Derogation)

Order 2001. Derogation isonly permitted under Article 15 of the

Convention in “ time of war or other public emergencythreatening the

life of the nation… to the extent strictly required by the exigencies

of the situation..”

[5] Douglas and other v. Hello! Ltd and other [2003] All ER 209

[6] Wainwright and another v Home Office [2003] UKHL 53.

[7] [2002] Ch 380

[8] Gender Recognition Act 2004, and the Civil Partnership Act 2004

[9] 2 AC 532 (HL).

[10] [1979-80] 1 EHRR 737 para 49

[11] R (ProLife Alliance) v British Broadcasting Corporation [2003] 2

WLR 1403.

[12] Eric Barendt, Free Speech and Abortion [2003] P.L 580.

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