Scrapping the Human Rights Act will help protect human rights, the Attorney General has argued.

Jeremy Wright, the Conservative MP who acts as the chief legal advisor to the Government, argued that replacing the Act would strengthen humanitarian protections.

The Government is moving to enact a Conservative manifesto promise to scrap the 1998 Act, which implements the European Convention on Human Rights into domestic law and binds public bodies to follow its principles.

“It is not the case that human rights and the Human Rights Act are the same thing,” he told MPs in the House of Commons.

“It is possible to protect human rights without the human rights act, and in fact to do so better – that’s what this government intends to do.”

Mr Wright also told MPs he did not want to get rid of any human rights included in the Human Rights Act but that he wanted to change the way they were interpreted.

The Government aims to replace the act with a so-called “British Bill of Rights”, though it has yet to come up with specifics about what such an act would contain.

Suggestions before the general election from former justice secretary Chris Grayling that the UK might leave the European Convention on Human Rights have been set to one side in recent months.

A report released earlier this week by Amnesty International UK however warned that the UK was “setting a dangerous precedent” by scrapping the Act, arguing that the move was “a gift to dictators” who wanted to abuse their populations with impunity.

“There’s no doubt that the downgrading of human rights by this government is a gift to dictators the world over and fatally undermines our ability to call on other countries to uphold rights and laws,” said Kate Allen, the organisation’s director.

Human rights attacks around the world Show all 10 1 /10 Human rights attacks around the world Human rights attacks around the world China Escalating crackdown against human rights activists including mass arrests of lawyers and a series of sweeping laws in the name of ‘national security’. Getty Images Human rights attacks around the world Egypt The arrest of thousands, including peaceful critics, in a ruthless crackdown in the name of national security, the prolonged detention of hundreds without charge or trial and the sentencing of hundreds of others to death. Getty Images Human rights attacks around the world Gambia Torture, enforced disappearances and the criminalisation of LGBTI people; and utter refusal to co-operate with the UN and regional human rights mechanisms on issues including freedom of expression, enforced disappearance and the death penalty. Getty Images Human rights attacks around the world Hungary Sealing off its borders to thousands of refugees in dire need; and obstructing collective regional attempts to help them. Getty Images Human rights attacks around the world Israel Maintaining its military blockade of Gaza and therefore collective punishment of the 1.8 million inhabitants there, as well as failing, like Palestine, to comply with a UN call to conduct credible investigations into war crimes committed during the 2014 Gaza conflict. Getty Images Human rights attacks around the world Kenya Extrajudicial executions, enforced disappearances and discrimination against refugees in its counter-terrorism operations; and attempts to undermine the International Criminal Court and its ability to pursue justice. Getty Images Human rights attacks around the world Pakistan The severe human rights failings of its response to the horrific Peshawar school massacre including its relentless use of the death penalty; and its policy on international NGOs giving authorities the power to monitor them and close them down if they are considered to be “against the interests” of the country. Getty Images Human rights attacks around the world Russia Repressive use of vague national security and anti-extremism legislation and its concerted attempts to silence civil society in the country; its shameful refusal to acknowledge civilian killings in Syria and its callous moves to block Security Council action on Syria. Getty Images Human rights attacks around the world Saudi Arabia Brutally cracking down on those who dared to advocate reform or criticise the authorities; and committing war crimes in the bombing campaign it has led in Yemen (pictured) while obstructing the establishment of a UN-led inquiry into violations by all sides in the conflict. Getty Images Human rights attacks around the world Syria Killing thousands of civilians in direct and indiscriminate attacks with barrel bombs and other weaponry and through acts of torture in detention; and enforcing lengthy sieges of civilian areas, blocking international aid from reaching starving civilians. Getty Images

Mr Wright rejected the accusation, however, arguing that the group had overstated its case.

“We … will continue to passionately advocate the protection of human rights both in this country and abroad,” he said.

“It’s quite wrong to say that this government in common with its predecessor does not challenge those other states with a doubtful human rights record – we continue to do that.”

In October Prince Zeid Ra’ad Al Hussein of Jordan condemned the UK’s new policy on human rights, arguing that it was “profoundly regrettable”.

“If Britain – a key member of the human rights council, a founding member of the UN and a privileged, permanent member of the security council – is considering a move that will potentially weaken a vital regional institution upholding fundamental human rights guarantees, this would be profoundly regrettable; damaging for victims and human rights protection; and contrary to this country’s commendable history of global and regional engagement,” he said.