Fresh row over North Bill of Rights

The British government is tonight facing a fresh row over plans for a Bill of Rights for the North.

The Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission will tomorrow present government with a report on the proposed bill, which was first promised in the Good Friday Agreement in 1998.

But sources have confirmed commission members Lady Daphne Trimble, wife of former Ulster Unionist leader Lord Trimble, and Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) representative Jonathan Bell have refused to endorse the report.

The Commission declined to comment on its report – which still commands the support of eight of the body’s ten commissioners – ahead of the document being presented to government.

But in a statement Chief Commission Monica McWilliams tonight said: “the Commission has taken great care to ensure that this advice on a Bill of Rights conforms fully to its mandate and I am pleased that all commissioners contributed to this process.

“Of course there will be a diversity of opinion on the contents of a Bill of Rights for Northern Ireland but what is important is that all commissioners agreed on having a Bill.

“The Commission looks forward to the launch of its final report tomorrow.” Supporters have said a Bill of Rights would enshrine in law the entitlements of individuals across a range of areas.

It is envisaged it would act as a tool to shape government policy and ensure resources are directed to areas of greatest need, while also promoting equality between nationalist and unionist communities.

But critics fear it will encourage legal challenges against the work of government, effectively giving judges a veto over policy decisions made by elected politicians.

It is understood Lady Trimble and Mr Bell are barred from commenting ahead of tomorrow’s report launch.

Unionist and nationalist parties have participated in attempts over the last decade to agree on the format of a Bill but they have repeatedly clashed over the proposals.

In his speech to the Ulster Unionist Party conference on Saturday, party leader Reg Empey said: “Next week the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission will publish its advice on a Bill of Rights.

“I have to say that this party will not stand by and allow powers to pass from democratically elected representatives in the Assembly and House of Commons to unelected judges: and nor will we allow Northern Ireland to be separated from the rest of the Kingdom through the imposition of a Bill of Rights that would not be accepted in any other part of the United Kingdom.”

The Commission will present its proposals to Northern Ireland Office Minister Paul Goggins tomorrow.