Right Restriction or Restricting Rights? The UK Acts to Address COVID-19

2020

The UK was initially slow to adopt measures to address the COVID-19 pandemic. However on 23 March 2020 and following escalating infection and mortality rates, the government introduced the most restrictive measures on movement in modern UK history. These lockdown measures which introduced sweeping limitation on movement outside the home were introduced through statutory legislation: regulations which were made by the government and not debated nor legislated by Parliament. This article considers the issues the UK?s legal responses to address the COVID-19 raises in terms of democracy, human rights and the rule of law