The United Kingdom has urged European leaders to implement significant changes in human rights legislation to address the issue of illegal migration.
Keir Starmer has cautioned that failing to adjust the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR) could drive voters towards divisive factions. However, critics have raised concerns that essential protections for individuals fleeing persecution may be at risk if amendments are made to the rules.
The UK government has identified two specific sections of the ECHR – protections against inhuman and degrading treatment, and the right to a family life – as hindrances to deportation efforts. The ECHR, a pivotal Europe-wide legal framework established post-World War II with strong support from Winston Churchill, faces calls from both the Conservative Party and Reform UK to exit the convention entirely, a stance opposed by the Labour Party.
Deputy Prime Minister David Lammy emphasized to the Council of Europe the importance of not allowing the ECHR to impede actions against illegal migration. Ahead of the meeting with Danish counterpart Mette Frederiksen, Keir Starmer acknowledged that the current asylum system was designed for a different era and stressed the need for adaptation in a world marked by significant mobility.
Council of Europe Secretary General Alain Berset indicated a willingness among member states to consider modifications to the ECHR. Despite reaffirming commitment to the convention and the European Court of Human Rights, ministers expressed concerns about the unprecedented challenges posed by migration and the necessity to balance societal needs.
While recognizing the ECHR as a crucial pillar for peace and security in Europe, David Lammy emphasized the need for the convention to evolve in response to changing circumstances. He called for a more focused approach to defining “inhuman and degrading treatment” and allowing states to make appropriate decisions regarding the removal of foreign criminals, thereby upholding the democratic principles of the convention.
Campaign groups have criticized proposed changes to the ECHR, with Natasha Tsangarides from Freedom from Torture warning against alterations to Article 3, which includes an absolute prohibition on torture and inhuman treatment. She stressed the importance of maintaining the ban on torture, highlighting the UK’s historical stance against such violations and the potential global repercussions of weakening these protections.
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