Tory Attack On 'Political' DPP

Tory members have criticised the Director of Public Prosecutions for allegedly politicising his role.

Keir Starmer had publicly stated his opposition to Conservative plans to replace the Human Rights Act with a British Bill of Rights.

The party responded by suggesting Mr Starmer had exceeded his official capacity by making his views known.

Tories have continued to insist the current Human Rights Act favours criminals and made it clear they would abolish the laws should they be elected to power.

Shadow justice secretary Dominic Grieve said any move rested with democratically elected representatives.

Jack Straw, the minister responsible for justice matters, put his support behind Mr Starmer, claiming the Conservatives' proposals only made a "mockery" of their so-called progressive politics.

"What Mr Starmer has said underlines what Dominic Grieve knows but daren't say: that Tory plans make no sense at all," he said.

"The Tories' dogmatic opposition to the Human Rights Act makes a mockery of their claims to be progressive."

Last week Mr Starmer dismissed claims the Act was a 'criminals' charter'. He said the rights enshrined in the act were basic and fundamental.

"It would be to this country's shame if we lost the clear and basic statement of our citizens' human rights provided by the Human Rights Act on the basis of a fundamentally flawed analysis of their origin and relevance to our society."

(PR/GK)