Ken Clarke hits out at European judges

by Jason Beattie, Daily Mirror

By JASON BEATTIE, Political Editor KENNETH Clarke yesterday hit out at European judges for interfering in British laws.

The Justice Secretary accused the ­European Court of Human Rights of acting against democratically elected governments. He said it has been “too ready to substitute its own judgment” over national courts.

The stinging rebuke comes after Britain was ordered to give prisoners the vote or risk hefty fines.

Mr Clarke said: “A country in which the government never loses a court case is not one in which most would wish to live. However, we believe courts exist to serve the democracies over which they have jurisdiction.”

And he warned Britain would seek to reform the Strasbourg-based court when it takes over the chairmanship of the council of Europe in November.

He said: “The UK has always been a strong supporter of the European Court of Human Rights. But at times it has been too ready to substitute its own judgment for that of national courts.

“There is also an urgent need to improve the court’s efficiency so that its vast backlog is reduced, and for states to send the best judges.”


(2011-4-27/mirror)