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The School of Law, Politics and Sociology at the University of Sussex presents a Sussex Salon: The Human Rights Act 1998 25 Years Old: Past, Present and Future

The Human Rights Act passed in 1998 is one of the modern cornerstones of the UK constitution. Yet it has been mired in controversy since it became law in 1998.

Successive governments have used it as an excuse for policy failures and since 2009 there have been proposals to repeal it. Often it is covered in the press and discussed in Parliament in relation to high profile court cases that involve unpopular causes, rather than being recognised in terms of the support it provides for the everyday rights of ordinary people in vulnerable situations. Perhaps for this reason, a poll carried out this February for GB News found a small majority of the people they polled wanted to repeal the Human Rights Act. Of the Conservative voters polled, a higher proportion, 68% were in favour of both repeal and the withdrawal of the UK from the European Convention of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms.

What do you think?

This participatory event with café style seating, is being held in the twenty-fifth year since the passage of the Human Rights Act in order to confront controversies, dispel myths, answer questions, and stimulate debate.

What is the Human Rights Act 1998? Where did it come from? What has it achieved? Has it got a future in the UK?

Join our expert panel for a lively evening of discussion and debate.

The panelists

• Paul Bowen KC
• Cllr Bella Sankey
• Dr Charlotte Skeet

Ticket price includes a glass of wine or soft drink.