UK (Parliament Politics Magazine) – Attorney General Richard Hermer slammed Reform UK’s leader, Nigel Farage call to leave the ECHR, warning it would isolate the UK alongside Russia and Belarus.
As reported by The Independent, Richard Hermer dismissed calls from Nigel Farage and senior Conservatives to leave the European Convention on Human Rights, warning it would damage Britain’s standing with allies.
What did Richard Hermer say about leaving the ECHR?
Lord Richard Hermer cautioned that quitting the human rights convention would place Britain in isolation, alongside Russia and Belarus.
According to Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s senior legal adviser, the ECHR is often cited as a concern because it can block deportations that may put lives at risk overseas.
He told a Lords committee,
“If we wanted to get around that, we would have to leave not only the ECHR, we would have to leave the [UN] Torture Convention, we would have to leave the Convention on the Rights of the Child, we would have to leave the International Convention on Civil or Political Rights.”
Mr Hermer said,
“We would become, together with Russia and Belarus, in splendid isolation on this planet, which I do not think is in the interests of this country.”
He warned that leaving the ECHR would send
“an immensely damaging signal, not only about where we are in the world currently, but about the importance of international cooperation and core shared values.”
According to him, Britain can adopt tougher immigration measures while remaining compliant with the ECHR, as other European nations do.
Lord Hermer stated,
“I want to make sure we’ve got the best and most effective immigration and asylum rules possible. There’s a real area of work to be done there, and I know the home secretary is absolutely on it.”
The Attorney General criticised the “broken” immigration and asylum system left by the Conservatives. He pledged to curb the number of arrivals to the UK.
Mr Hermer added that the government would leave no stone unturned in protecting the country’s interests. He also said it would tackle the broken immigration and asylum system.
Nigel Farage’s stance on leaving the ECHR?
Nigel Farage has long advocated quitting the ECHR to allow the deportation of migrants arriving by small boats in Britain.
He proposed that Britain could exit the ECHR and introduce a UK Bill of Rights. The legislation would apply only to citizens and legally residing individuals.
What did Kemi Badenoch say about the Conservatives’ ECHR plans?
Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch has pledged to outline the party’s position on the ECHR at its annual conference in October.
She is expected to endorse quitting the ECHR as the Tory Party’s official position, aligning with the stance of shadow justice secretary Robert Jenrick.
Ms Badenoch launched a commission in June to examine the ECHR and whether the UK could exit, noting it would “probably” have to withdraw.
According to her, the ECHR prevents deporting foreign offenders, including groomers, under Article 8’s family life protections.
Key details about the ECHR
The ECHR was drafted in 1950 and came into force in 1953, with the UK first to ratify. It has 46 member countries, though Belarus never joined, and Russia was expelled in 2022.
The convention protects fundamental rights, including the right to life, freedom of expression, and the prohibition of torture. It is enforced by the European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg.
Article 8 of the ECHR
Article 8 of the ECHR protects individuals’ privacy, family life, home, and correspondence. This right is qualified and can be limited by law for security, safety, or crime prevention.
Any interference must be proportionate, meaning appropriate and no more than necessary to achieve the legitimate aim.
Number of illegal migrants in the UK
In the year ending March 2025, the UK recorded 44,125 irregular arrivals, with 86% coming via small boats. Small boat arrivals totalled 38,023, averaging 54 people per boat.
Despite the high numbers, only 2,240 were returned. Since 2018, just 4% of all small boat arrivals have been sent back.