Tory Party Conference – Anti-Rights Rhetoric Revealed

In the wake of the Conservative Party Conference, a distillation of anti-human rights rhetoric and a clear proclivity towards populist diatribes has surfaced, underscoring a concerning trajectory set by the party. Notably, the party’s stance on issues such as transgender rights, migration, and environmental obligations have thrown them into the crucible of public scrutiny, particularly from human rights organisations and progressive advocates, but also some within the party itself.

The strong determination shown by key Tory members, like Rishi Sunak and Suella Braverman, in confirming their anti-trans and anti-immigrant feelings shows a steadfast dedication to populism at the cost of human rights. Mr. Sunak’s clear view on gender, which outright ignores the identities and dignity of trans and non-binary people, not only stirs division but also pushes the party further into a space of politics hostile to rights and even more into a corner which will be tough to leave. This disregard for trans rights, at least, was met with approval from some parts of the party, with Andrew Boff, a previous leader of the Tories in City Hall, being kicked out of the conference after heckling the Home Secretary.

Diving further into the abyss of populism, Home Secretary Suella Braverman has not only supported stark anti-trans stances, including the contentious issue regarding transgender women’s access to women’s hospital wards (despite over 100 Freedom of Information Act requests showing not a single complaint in respect of this), but also displayed a marked animosity towards the LGBTQ+ community and migrants. The polarising posture adopted by the Conservative party has engendered tumult within its own ranks, evidenced by rising Conservative star, Ben Houchen, stating that he would not bet on his party winning the next election and over 50 conservative MPs now announcing they will stand down at the next election.

Moreover, as Alex Chalk, lord chancellor and justice secretary, heaped praise upon Britain’s legal system, Suella Braverman berated ‘Labour lawyers’ in an ever increasing attack on ‘lefty ideologies’ and implicated them in aiding and abetting ‘eco idiots’ and disrupting civic life. Showing clear disdain for human rights, the Home Secretaries 28 minute tirade included comments such as:

“Our country has become enmeshed in a dense net of international rules that were designed for another era. And it is Labour that turbocharged their impact by passing the misnamed Human Rights Act. I am surprised they didn’t call it the Criminal Rights Act.”

Going further, there was no attempt to hide the double standard employed by the Home Secretary in her previous benefit from human rights juxtaposed by her now clear disgust at such ideas:

“The wind of change that carried my own parents across the globe in the 20th century was a mere gust compared [with] the hurricane that is coming. Because today, the option of moving from a poorer country to a richer one is not just a dream for billions of people. It’s an entirely realistic prospect.”

Exposing the lack of a ‘company line’ on such topics, Justice Secretary Alex Chalk ended his speech expressing his pride in the UK commitment to international law, saying:

“Let us take pride in what our country has contributed – probably more than any other to the international rules-based order.”

This mix of populist talk and anti-human rights sentiment is not limited to issues of gender and legal practice. A wider scene reveals a worrying pattern crafted by the Tory government. The recent string of losses, including the foiled attempt to deport people to Rwanda for out-of-country processing and the high court rejecting the idea to allow agency staff to replace striking workers, highlights a blatant disregard for both international commitments and workers’ rights. Principles and laws which, to a large extent, were driven by conservative governments of the past, including Winston Churchill’s first term advocating for the European Convention and second term ratifying the Refugee Convention.In the environmental arena, despite the irrefutable urgencies underscored by climate scientists globally, the Conservative government has startlingly rolled back on their climate commitments. The issuance of new oil licenses in the North Sea starkly contrasts with global moves towards sustainability and demonstrates a willing detachment from environmental responsibilities at a critical juncture in the fight against climate change. With Ben Goldsmith, the chair of the Conservative Environment Network warning that:

“Any decision to backtrack in our efforts to tackle the greatest challenge of our time would be on the wrong side of history, and of the polls too. People of all political persuasions want immediate action. They want nature restored and the climate problem solved. They know that the solutions are cleaner, better and increasingly cheaper than the polluting industries which stand to benefit from continued inaction.”

These policies and views only seek to compliment the bombardment of the human rights flotilla seen recently, including the introduction of draconian statutes severely curtailing the right to protest, underpins a systematic erosion of civil liberties. Enshrined under the guise of maintaining order, these laws do little more than to mute the voices of dissent and stifling the bedrock of democratic dialogue. Almost poetically, this was seen in action with a coach of campaigners being stopped by the police due to there being:

“reason to believe they were going to disrupt the Tory party conference.”

Such stances adopted by the Tory government, especially amidst the backdrop of 13 years of rule—without the validation of national elections for the past two prime ministers—raises imperative questions about the future trajectory of the UK. It’s crucial to decipher whether these actions and pronouncements emanating from the Conservative Party Conference embody a genuine belief system or merely constitute a political machination designed to court a particular demographic in the run up to a course changing general election.

The burden now falls on human rights campaigners, legal practitioners, and progressive forces to shine a light on these destructive policies and form a united front that strongly challenges the Conservative’s populist strategies. A comprehensive mobilisation that intertwines grassroots activism with legal skill and international solidarity will be paramount in navigating through the storm of anti-human rights posturing, ensuring that the inherent dignity of every individual is preserved and protected amidst the political chaos.

The tableau that has emerged post-conference is more than a mere political posturing; it’s a stark reminder of the imperativeness to vehemently defend the principles that underpin a just and equitable society. In synthesising a collective response, there lies an opportunity to not only counteract the prevailing anti-human rights rhetoric but also to reimagine and reconstruct a narrative that places human rights, dignity, and environmental stewardship at the forefront of the UK’s political agenda.

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The NRI express our unequivocal disapproval of the anti-human rights rhetoric and positions being adopted and underscored, positions evidently against the core of fundamental rights and liberties. It is deeply troubling for us to witness the sheer downward trajectory that obfuscates the ethos and spirit of respect, dignity and protection that should be afforded to every individual in a democratic society, regardless of their gender, origin, religion, sex, gender, belief, sexuality, disability or any other part of what intrinsically make us human. The NRI will remain unwavering in its commitment to advocating for human rights and in a time where it is more needed than ever, we extend a hand to allies, networks and any individual who believe in working towards a future where human rights are not a distant memory, but a reality enjoyed by all.

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