CAMPAIGNERS warned the Human Rights Act has “never [been] needed so badly” as a consultation to a government review over its reform closed yesterday.

The government launched the review into how the Act is being interpreted in UK courts in December, appointing former appeal court judge Sir Peter Gross as its chair.

Tory ministers have alleged the legislation is being exploited to prevent “foreign-born criminals” from being deported.

However, a new poll by Amnesty International UK found there is no appetite to amend the Act and that the coronavirus pandemic has shown more than ever the need for strong human rights protection.

The survey also found that changing rights laws could have a negative effect on Britain’s ability to promote human rights internationally. 

Amnesty director Kate Allen said: “This terrible last year has reinforced the importance of basic human rights protections in people’s minds.

“It’s extremely worrying that the government is apparently still hell-bent on tinkering with, or even substantially diluting, this vital piece of legislation.

“From Hillsborough to Grenfell and right through to the appalling mishandling of the Covid crisis in our care homes, we’ve never so badly needed a means to hold the government to account.

“We are clear and the public are clear too: the government should not review or reduce our rights and protections. 

“The government has an extensive ‘to do’ list, and stripping back this vital safety net and compromising the UK’s ability to uphold human rights around the world should not feature on it.”

Labour’s shadow justice secretary David Lammy called it “bonkers” that the government was launching an attack on human rights in the middle of a pandemic.