ABSTRACT
The balance between the legally defined set of rights and the series of responsibilities and obligations is at the heart of this debate. An example can be found in the following extract from Tony Blair’s speech at the Labour Party Conference, 28 September 1999:
Tony Blair further outlined his vision for Britain in an article he prepared for publication on 10 November 2002. Although the language is not in the emotional style of a party political speech, the message is the same:
Many would argue that there has been a long and historic development of citizens’ rights in the UK which has resulted in a series of rights and liberties enjoyed by UK citizens. These rights and liberties include: • Freedom of movement • The right to be treated equally • Freedom of speech • The right to privacy • Freedom of association • The right to a fair trial • Freedom of conscience • The right to own property • Freedom of the person • The right to vote and to stand for
public office
For others, there is the belief that many of the rights and liberties enjoyed by UK citizens are little more that an illusion that has come to be believed to be real through centuries of repetition, and even these rights and liberties, some would argue, have been systematically attacked recently. The following chart outlines the good news and the bad news on the state of rights and liberties in the UK.
