In the wake of the attacks on London Bridge and Manchester Arena, Theresa May has said she is ready to rip up some human rights laws in order to crack down on the terrorist threat.
“We need to make sure that our police and security and intelligence agencies have the powers they need,” the Prime Minister said in a speech. “If our human rights laws stop us from doing it, we will change the laws so we can do it.”
May’s statement has been criticised by global human rights charity Amnesty International.
The non-governmental organisation has been fighting human rights violations since the 1960s and called May’s comments “reckless and misinformed”.
This is exactly the time human rights must be protected & cherished, not attacked & undermined @theresa_may pic.twitter.com/srkgsn6aRS
— Amnesty UK (@AmnestyUK) June 6, 2017
“This is exactly the time that human rights must be protected and cherished, not attacked and undermined,” said the charity. “Human rights are there to protect all in society – that is just pure common sense. “Whoever is in government after the 8 June election must ensure our human rights are protected.”May’s statement also drew criticism from opposition leaders in the General Election, which comes to a close this Thursday. Liberal Democrat leader Tim Farron accused her of “simply posturing”, having been prepared to offer up the police for “cut after cut” when she was home secretary.This was a view shared by some on Twitter.
Theresa May vows to undo human rights legislation to give sweeping powers to the 3 or 4 police officers who'll be left after the next cuts.
— David Schneider (@davidschneider) June 6, 2017
Meanwhile more users believed May was simply wrong to believe affecting human rights was the answer.
Theresa May threatens to rip up our human rights to defeat terrorists who threaten our human rights.
Spot the flaw in this.#GE2017— James Melville (@JamesMelville) June 6, 2017
History has proven time and time again, you can not defeat terrorism by suspending, ignoring or deminishing human rights. #humanrightsact
— Harry Leslie Smith (@Harryslaststand) June 6, 2017
The thing about human rights is it protects humans. That means everybody who is a human. Not merely people Theresa May decides are human
— Marcus Chown (@marcuschown) June 6, 2017
However, some were quick to leap to the Prime Minister’s support.
Theresa May: "if our human rights laws prevent us from deporting suspected terrorists, then we will change the laws"
GET IN!
— crabby caroline (@RedSoledGooner) June 6, 2017
good news that Theresa may will get rid of Human rights Law, it only helps Middle East countries, she will get my vote,
— Jawahar Lal (@L161115J) June 7, 2017
Well done Prime Minister, the speech that just won you the general election, lets stop all these Common Purpose activists who protect them
— Dukesy (@dukesy12) June 6, 2017