Where British rights come from
Many rights in the UK grew slowly over centuries. Magna Carta, agreed in 1215, said the king also had to follow the law. The Habeas Corpus Act of 1679 protected people from being held in prison without a lawful reason. The Bill of Rights of 1689 limited the power of the monarch and strengthened Parliament. Later laws built on these older ones.
The European Convention on Human Rights
British lawyers helped to write the European Convention on Human Rights, and in 1950 the UK was one of the first countries to sign it. The Human Rights Act 1998 made these rights part of UK law. Courts, the government and other public bodies must respect them. The Convention belongs to the Council of Europe, not the European Union, so it still applies after Brexit.
Rights in the Convention
The Convention protects, among others: the right to life; freedom from torture; freedom from slavery and forced labour; the right to liberty and security; the right to a fair trial; respect for private and family life; freedom of thought, conscience and religion; and freedom of expression, including free speech. These rights do not let you ignore ordinary laws. There is no human right to drive at any speed you like, for example.
Equal treatment
The Equality Act 2010 protects people in Great Britain from unfair treatment because of age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage or civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, sex, and sexual orientation. It covers work, education, shops and services, public services and renting or buying a home. Northern Ireland has its own equality laws. Citizens Advice can help, and so can the Equality and Human Rights Commission or, in Northern Ireland, the Equality Commission.