Four Jewish human rights experts have been appointed to a newly formed independent commission to investigate a UK Bill of Rights.

They are Lib-dem peer Lord Lester QC, author of the Human Rights Act, Jonathan Fisher QC, a visiting professor of the LSE, barrister Phillipe Sands author of several books on the Iraq war and Dr Michael Pinto-Duschinsky, an expert on political finance and corruption and a member of the academic panel on party funding of the Committee on Standards in Public Life.

The commission will be headed by former Home Office Permanent Secretary, Sir Leigh Lewis. Other members of the panel are Martin Howe QC, Anthony Speaight QC, Baroness Helena Kennedy QC and Sir David Edward.

Secretary of State for Justice Kenneth Clarke said: "I hope that this work will help to inform the debate on human rights at home and assist us as we continue to press for reform of the European Court of Human Rights.

"I look forward to receiving their recommendations".