Bill Of Rights: Manifesto Policy In Limbo As Legislation Halted To Find 'New Ways Of Delivery'

Liz Truss has pulled plans to enact a new bill of rights, in one of her first acts as prime minister, the Guardian understands, telling the cabinet her government would reassess ways to deliver its agenda.

- Jessica Elgot

The bill was the flagship policy of the outgoing justice secretary, Dominic Raab, who was dismissed by Truss on Tuesday after backing her rival, Rishi Sunak, in the Conservative leadership election.

The sudden disappearance of the bill will raise questions over how the government intends to proceed with its Rwanda deportation policy, which is in limbo after the European court of human rights (ECHR) issued last-minute injunctions to prevent asylum seekers being sent there.

The bill which was in the Conservative manifesto - would have given legal supremacy to the UK supreme court and made it explicit that UK courts can disregard rulings from the ECHR. Critics had argued it would not materially affect the UK's relationship to the European court and was unlikely to lead to a resolution to the current impasse.

Ministers are understood to be deeply concerned about the overall drafting of the bill, which was due to have its second reading on Monday.