Scottish PEN, part of the worldwide association of writers fighting for freedom of expression and human rights, has written a blistering open letter for the Sunday Herald attacking the new Tory governments planned assault on liberty.

Among the signatories are some of the country's best known literary figures including Rebus author Ian Rankin, director of the Edinburgh Book Festival Nick Barley, novelists Alexander McCall Smith, James Roberston, Karen Campbell and Alan Bissett, historian Tom Devine, writer Neal Ascherson, and literary elder statesmen James Kelman and Alasdair Gray.

In the first week of taking office, our newly elected government has prioritised an agenda to remove the keystone of human rights in this country and dismantle vital legal protections for each and every citizen. We, the undersigned, wish to express our opposition to the Government's plans to extend the surveillance state, weaken Freedom of Information legislation and, above all, its declared intent to repeal the 1998 Human Rights Act. We are deeply concerned at the implications for individuals and institutions, not least because the European Convention of Human Rights form a fundamental part of the devolution settlements for Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. Repealing the 1998 Act would, we believe, undermine key elements of constitutional relationships within the UK, and have ramifications for our place within the European Union. The Government has yet to publish any significant detail on its proposed 'British Bill of Rights' but we are alarmed by the 'extremist' language being used by ministers and their supporters in certain sections of the fourth estate. It is clear, however, that these plans represent a major transfer of power away from ordinary citizens and towards the state, corporations and large vested interests, including a diminution of the rights of individuals to sue governments.

Our free press enjoys many legal protections based on its historic function of holding governments and power to account. With these plans certain to place the basis of our civil rights under huge duress, we call on our free press to fulfil this essential, historic role as a defender of our freedoms. All of our human rights have been under almost continuous assault since the turn of this century. Removal of the Human Rights Act will have many and unforeseen consequences but in the context of an already imminent increase in powers of surveillance and tightening anti-terrorist laws, the introduction of new legal definitions makes free speech more vulnerable than at any time since 1945. Scottish PEN will work with English PEN, Wales PEN Cymru and other PEN centres and human rights organisations across Europe to oppose the repeal of the Human Rights Act - including any consequent attempt by the British Government to withdraw from the European Convention of Human Rights. As writers, we believe the right to free expression is fundamental to a healthy society and its relationship to the wider world. We will defend that right and all associated freedoms against attack from any vested interest or government body. We hope others will join us.

http://www.scottishpen.org/human-rights-act-letter/

A C Clarke

Aimee Chalmers

Alan Bissett

ALAN GAY

Alan Riach

Alasdair Gray

Alexander McCall Smith

Alison Miller

Andrew Murray Scott

Ann E MacKinnon

Anne Connolly

Anne Donovan

Anne Dunford

Aonghas MacNeacail

Billy Kay

Brian Holton

Chiew-Siah Tei

Christine De Luca

Chrys Salt MBE

Claire Squires

Claudia Daventry

Colin Donati

David McDonald

Dennis Smith

Dilys Rose

Douglas Stuart Wilson

Dr Peta Freestone

Drew Campbell

Etta Dunn

Faith Pullin

Fiona Graham

Fiona Wilson

Frank Rodgers

Gerda Stevenson

Gerry Loose

Gillian Beattie-Smith

Graeme Macrae Burnet

Greg Michaelson

Helena Nelson

Iain Galbraith

Ian Crockatt

Ian Rankin

James Kelman [non-member]

James Robertson

Jane Archer

Jane McKie

Jean Rafferty

Jenni Calder

Jennifer Williams

Jo Clifford

Joan Lennon

Joan Lingard

Jules Horne

Karen Campbell

Kay Goodall

Kona Macphee

Les Wilson

lesley riddoch

Lin Anderson

Linda Menzies

Margaret Ryan

Mario Relich

Mark O. Goodwin

Martin Bates

Martin Chick

Mary Edward

Mary Smith

Matthew Fitt

Maureen Myant

Meaghan delahunt

Mei-Ling McNamara

Moira Forsyth

Neal Ascherson

Nick Barley

Paula Jennings

Regi Claire

Robyn Marsack

Roy Dalgleish Linlithgow Book Festival

Stephanie Green

Stewart Conn

Sue Reid Sexton

Susie Maguire

Suzanne Egerton

TM Devine

Tom Hubbard

Tom Pow

Una Leonie Flett

Vicki Feaver

Zoe Venditozzi

Zoe Wicomb