12 June 2018 Justice Minister Phillip Lee, whose responsibilities include human rights policy, unexpectedly announced his resignation from the government over its approach to Brexit, and in particular concerns about respect for human rights an parliamentary sovereignty. During the speech, the key note address at Bright Blue’s “Fighting Freedom” conference, Dr Lee outlined the importance of human rights in conservatism, and noted his sadness at how debates have been distorted, in particular stating: “For me the recognition of our human rights is what conservatism is all about. We are the party of Sir Winston Churchill ... his vision contributed to the founding of the United Nations, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, and the European Convention of Human Rights. The last of course having been co-written by the Conservative lawyer and Minister David Maxwell Fyfe ... We have been at the heart of the development of protection of human rights ... So it upsets me when the Conservative...

This post was originally published on British Institute of Human Rights News .