Human rights — Privacy — Right to respect for private life — Sexual privacy — Discrimination — Administrative discharge of applicants from armed forces on ground of homosexual orientation — Government policy banning homosexuals from serving in armed forces — Exercise of prerogative power — Defence of the realm — Applicants challenging legality of discharges — Whether challenge justiciable — Whether policy irrational — Public interest of effective fighting force — Grave assault on human rights — Balance of interests — Whether decision of Minister outrageously defying logic or accepted moral standards — Whether policy lawful

Relationship of international law and municipal law — European Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms, 1950 — Article 8 — Right to respect for private and family life — Whether Convention part of domestic law of England — Whether applicable — Equal Treatment Directive — Direct effect under European Community law — Distinction between gender and sex discrimination — Whether applicable — The law of England