The human rights record of the Tory UK government has come under scrutiny as the world marked the UN Human Rights Day this past Saturday.

In recent years the Conservative UK government has been condemned by two United Nations reports, due to their austerity policies and for violating the rights of the disabled.

Following the European Union referendum result, the Conservative Government have further threatened to repeal the Human Rights Act and withdraw the UK from the European Convention on Human Rights.

Commenting, SNP MSP Christina McKelvie, who convenes the Equalities and Human Rights Committee at Holyrood, said:

“The toxic Tory government have a disastrous record on welfare, social security and human rights – inflicting damage throughout society and our communities.

“The UN has condemned the UK government on multiple occasions because of their unacceptable and disgraceful policies – denouncing it for the regressive bedroom tax, universal credit and its austerity agenda, and for not doing enough on the living wage, zero hours contracts, or to tackle the scourge of foodbanks, the use of which has sky-rocketed under the most right-wing Tory government in modern times.

“Their policies towards the disabled have even been called ‘grave and systematic violations’ of disabled people’s rights, hindering disabled people’s ability ‘to live independently and be included in the community’.

“And on top of all that, Theresa May has continually argued for the scrapping of the Human Rights Act and withdrawing us from the ECHR in the wake of the Brexit vote in England and Wales – taking away vital protections in law that benefit all of us.

“UN Human Rights Day gives us all a chance to stand up for our rights as communities – and the damaging agenda of the toxic Tories proves that we must keep fighting to protect our most basic rights right here in the UK.”

Notes:

Information on UN Human Rights Day available here: http://www.un.org/en/events/humanrightsday/

‘Government austerity policy a breach of international human rights, says UN report’, http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/austerity-government-policy-conservatives-poor-food-banks-inequality-un-a7110066.html

‘British government systematically violating the rights of the disabled, UN inquiry warns’, http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/un-report-disability-disabled-rights-violating-austerity-welfare-reform-esa-pip-a7404956.html