Plans for a British bill of rights were published on Monday in the face of fierce Conservative criticism, with ministers claiming it would help reassure people they would be looked after by the state during times of economic hardship.

Although Jack Straw, justice secretary, mentioned the proposed bill of rights in the same breath as the Magna Carta and the 1689 bill of rights, the 21st century version would not be legally enforceable and is still in embryonic form.