ABSTRACT
On 23 October 1997, the Lord Chancellor, Derry Irvine, stood up in the gilt splendour of the House of Lords and introduced the Human Rights Bill.1 This Bill made provision to incorporate the European Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms (the ECHR) into the law of the UK. It formed a crucial part of a significant programme of constitutional reform enacted by the new Labour Government, which also included devolution, reform of the Commons and the Lords itself, and changes to the voting system. After successive attempts through private members to incorporate the Convention,2 it finally received the backing of the government of the day. But, what difference will it make in reality – just how big a change to the culture of the UK will result?
