The 23rd of June 2016 was the day (depending on what your viewpoint is) that Britain gained Independence from the tyranny of the European Union or the day that fear and racism conquered all.
During the day I work as a social worker. My role is underpinned by Health and Social Care legislation to meet assessed need and most importantly, to uphold the Human Rights of the most vulnerable in society. For many out there, the effects of Brexit may seem abstract or microscopic because our chances of the “terrorists” swarming to our shores from mainland Europe have mystically vanished! Sure that’s the most important thing to some.
Regardless of what side of the fence you are on, YOU will feel consequences. Withdrawal from the European Union seems at the moment, as painful as it is for me to admit to that point. Withdrawal from the European Union will mean that the Tory Government could scrap compliance with the Human Rights Act (1998).
Just pause and think about that for a moment. As I have extensive training in this Act, and many people do not, I would like to make some very sinister points and sketch some hypothetical scenarios that could arise and what they might mean for everyone. Before I begin I also wish to note that the Human Rights Act is not perfect by any means and a lot of areas are in need of improvement. In 2007 David Cameron is on record as wanting to replace the Act with a British Bill of Rights. Conservative thinking has wanted to amend YOUR rights to meet THEIR agenda!
Article 8 of the Human Rights Act gives us all the right to a family, private life and correspondence. If the Act is revoked by Brexit, YOU will not have the right to your own privacy as you do now. Your mail could be legally intercepted and destroyed. Or if population rates steadily increase, population control measures could be introduced. Think about that for a second.
Article 3 protects all from “cruel, inhumane treatment and torture”. I think this one speaks for itself. I am saddened that not many people are aware of this fact and when Brexit comes, the Conservative Government could hypothetically protect SOME from inhumane treatment but not others.
Article 4 prohibits slavery and forced labour. We all know the Tories love “balancing the books”. What these books are, nobody really knows. So we can all look forward to pay cuts, pension cuts, work schemes and removal of any state security should our circumstances change.
This is just a short article on the consequences of Brexit for us. All of us. Me, you, our families, our children and future generations. Our children could be technically tortured into working for free whilst the British Government increases its security. This is dramatic scenario, I know, but without the Human Rights Act it cannot be ruled out, because there would be no protection from Europe. So for even the hardest of Brexiteers, YOU will feel cold hard reality. To which they will surely reply, “But at least the borders are closed…”
‘Your mail could be legally intercepted and destroyed’
Where have you been all during the troubles, Jude? No, the other Jude.
This has been happening for years, as has the intercepting and recording of phone calls.
Article 3 protects all from cruel, inhumane and degrading treatment’
Have you never heard about Long Kesh/the Maze and internment?
You may well have extensive training in the human rights act, but you don’t seem to know much about its implementation and use/abuse.
The Human Rights Act was constructed in 1998 and passed in Parliament in 2000. To a certain extent, internment and privacy invasion in the 70s 80s and 90s were allowed on a grand scale due to no “rights” legislation. This act has dramatically decreased those behaviours. Yes threads still exist but could become alot more grand post brexit and removal of the Human Rights act 1998.
I really do think you need to work on your understanding of the meaning of the word ‘consequences’.