How do Liberals Perceive Natural Rights?

How to Liberals perceive natural rights?

Liberals advocate for rights and equality.

The theory of natural law came about during the enlightenment. It challenged the divine right of Kings and became an alternative justification for the establishment of a social contract (John Rawls).

Rights include both civil and human rights. Civil rights are those that an individual has as a virtue of being a citizen for example the right to vote. Human (natural) rights are those that everyone one is entitled to. They can be seen as rights that are God given e.g. the right to life.

John Locke interpreted natural rights as the right to ‘Life, liberty and property’. He advanced that no right can break the right before it.  However Thomas Jefferson did not see property as a natural right instead he interpreted natural rights as ‘the right to pursue happiness’.

John Stewart Mill advocated that everyone should be allowed to do what they like as long as it doesn't restrict anybody else’s freedom. For example people should have the right to take drugs as long as it doesn't restrict anybody else.  Many legal positivists maintain that individuals have rights that are restricted and confined within legal means. For example everyone has the right to property but the government still place restrictions on what can be done with property. 

Do the Liberal Democrats still advance rights and equality?

Some would argue that the Liberal Democrats do still advance rights and equality of all individuals.

For example during the coalition government they managed to remove all innocent people from police databases which were heavily concentrated with black and ethnic minorities. Demonstrating that they wanted to ensure equality for everybody.

Recently they have also been advocating for gay marriages to be legalised, although this hasn’t become law yet. But will the conservatives back the Liberal democrats?