As the front page of today's Daily Telegraph sets out, the Conservative Party's plan to abolish the Human Rights Act and replace it with a Bill of Rights and Responsibilities has been attacked by the Director of Public Prosecutions, Keir Starmer QC.
There is an important debate to be had on the topic. Indeed, Liberty are amongst the most well known of the many opponents of the Conservative plan.
But regardless of the merits, Big Brother Watch thinks it wholly wrong for the Director to make political commentary, particularly about the qualities of the policies of a Party with which he might soon properly be expected to work to the best of his abilities. In this country we do not have a culture of public discussion from civil servants. Indeed, the apolitical quality of that service, much undermined in recent times, is to be prized.
