The implications of Brexit for fundamental rights protection in the UK: report of the hearing held on 25th February 2016

This is the report of the sixth session of the LSE Commission on the Future of Britain in Europe, which took place on Thursday 25 February, from 16.30-19.00h. The hearing drew together a number of politicians, academics, practitioners and activists to discuss the question of the implications of Brexit for fundamental rights protection in the UK. Dominic Grieve QC and Marina Wheeler QC presented opening remarks on the British Bill of Rights and the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights respectively, and a very rich discussion ensued. Participants presented perspectives on and analyses of the state and fate of fundamental rights protection in the UK, spanning the matters of the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights, the European Convention on Human Rights, British relations with the Strasbourg Court and the British Bill of Rights. The report seeks to convey the breadth and depth of the very balanced debate that took place at this session. I would like to express my gratitude to the participants for their expert contributions as presented during the session itself and by way of additional papers. Many thanks are also due to Marion Osborne and David Spence for their excellent support and assistance in the organisation of the hearing. Any remaining errors in this report are my sole responsibility.