Lord IrvineA report commissioned by the Lord Chancellor, Lord Irvine, has questioned the success of the Human Rights Act (HRA) and called for an independent commission to help foster a human rights culture in the UK.

In a move that is likely to prove embarrassing for Irvine, who has steadfastly resisted calls for such a body, the report warns the HRA may have "little meaning" unless an "independent lead authority" is set up to promote the Act.

The report, by John Raine, of Birmingham University's school of public policy, and Clive Walker, of Leeds University's law department, confirms earlier studies that have shown the courts to be coping well with the HRA, thanks partly to the occurrence of far fewer HRA-related claims than was originally anticipated.