MPs have written to justice secretary Dominic Raab asking him to reconsider his decision not to appear before the joint committee on human rights next week.

Raab was due to give evidence next Wednesday – the day before parliamentary recess – but said this week he would have to cancel.

Acting committee chair Joanna Cherry QC MP said members were ‘extremely disappointed’ and asked Raab to reconsider, giving him until Monday to respond to her letter. Raab had previously said he was looking forward to appearing before the committee and working with members to scrutinise the government’s work.

‘Whilst we understand that there are pressures that come with holding the dual roles of lord chancellor and deputy prime minister, accountability to parliament should take priority,’ said Cherry. ‘This date has been in our diaries and yours for some time. It is not clear why, at such short notice, other matters should take priority.’

Raab’s appearance was particularly timely as the government recently introduced the Bill of Rights Bill to the House of Commons, proposing to repeal the Human Rights Act 1998 and change the way in which rights under the European Convention on Human Rights are given effect in UK law.

Cherry added: ‘It is the most important piece of rights legislation this country has seen for nearly a quarter of a century. It did not, despite the request of this committee and others, receive pre-legislative scrutiny. It is therefore crucial that we are able to question you on the contents of the Bill, along with other pressing human rights issues.’

A Ministry of Justice spokesperson said the introduction of the bill of rights ‘followed an extensive consultation, and it will be debated and scrutinised in parliament in the usual way’.

Raab’s cancelled appearance was the second time in a matter of days that a member of the cabinet had pulled out of an evidence session since prime minister Boris Johnson announced his departure and the Conservative Party leadership race began.

Priti Patel, home secretary, had been due to appear on Wednesday morning before the home affairs committee to talk about the Rwanda deportation policy, but could not attend because of ‘recent changes in government’. Downing Street has said the government continues to work on the prime minister’s priorities.

 

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