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UK News

Christian group concerned over possible human rights changes

The Tories have said that if they win the election they will change the law to say British courts wouldn't have to listen to the European Court of Human Rights.

They would then introduce a British bill of rights instead.

Speaking about the plans, justice secretary Chris Grayling said: "What we signed up to was something that was designed to combat dictatorship.

"It has now become something that permeates parts of our life that should be a matter for Parliament and certainly a matter for our courts.

"I think the public of this country are frustrated at the way human rights laws have evolved."

But the Christian Legal Centre says it could mean that believers who feel they have been discriminated against won't get a fair deal.

Over the past few years, a number of cases in which Christians have claimed to have been discriminated against have been taken to Europe.

Last year, Nadia Eweida won a case against British Airways, who had told her to stop wearing a cross to work.

She had previously lost her case in the British courts.

Andrea Williams from the Christian Legal Centre told Premier's News Hour: "What we have seen coming out of Europe when we've taken our Christian interest cases is that the European Court gives the Christians more rights than we've been seeing in our national courts.

"In some ways I find this really quite concerning.

"It was the European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg that actually recognised the cross as a Christian symbol, that recognised that believing in marriage between a man and woman is something that flows from faith...These are things the British courts have been refusing to recognise now for over a decade."

The Conservatives would only be able to make their proposals a reality if they win the general election next May.

Labour and the Liberal Democrats have both criticised the plans.

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