Starmer Defends Human Rights Lawyers Amid Deportation Controversy

 

Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has defended human rights lawyers who have blocked deportations of foreign criminals and illegal migrants, stating that they are simply fulfilling their professional duty. Speaking at the first global summit on organised immigration crime, Starmer emphasized that the legal system depends on lawyers representing their clients, regardless of personal beliefs.

 

"No, lawyers are employed to represent people, and they represent them, whether they agree with them or don’t agree with them," he said when asked whether his past as a human rights barrister made him “part of the problem.” He insisted that the legal system would break down without such principles.

 

Home Secretary Yvette Cooper confirmed that Labour is reviewing the use of human rights laws, particularly Article 8 of the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR), which allows migrants to claim deportation would violate their right to family life. However, she reassured that the government would not withdraw from the ECHR, warning that such a move could undermine international cooperation against people smuggling gangs.

 

 

"There is a review under way at the moment that is looking at the application of Article 8 in some particular cases where we have disagreed with the conclusions that were reached in the courts," Cooper stated. She stressed that remaining in the ECHR has helped the UK secure agreements with France and Germany to combat illegal migration. Germany plans to introduce stricter penalties for those who help migrants reach the UK, while France will pass laws enabling officers to stop small boats in shallow waters.

 

The discussion follows several high-profile cases where illegal migrants and convicted foreign criminals have used human rights laws to avoid deportation. These include an Albanian criminal who remained in the UK after claiming his son had an aversion to foreign chicken nuggets and a Pakistani paedophile who was jailed for child sex offences but was allowed to stay because his deportation was deemed “unduly harsh” on his children.

 

Legal experts believe that if the government wants to curb legal challenges to deportations, it will need to introduce legislation reaffirming the primacy of UK law over the ECHR rather than simply issuing new guidance. The Prime Minister is expected to outline proposals in an immigration White Paper ahead of the local elections in May.

 

At the summit, Starmer also signaled openness to new approaches for handling failed asylum seekers, including sending them to third countries such as the western Balkans. He confirmed that the government is exploring an EU proposal for "return hubs," where migrants would be sent after exhausting all avenues of appeal.

 

"The principal approach that we take is that we will look at anything that works. Obviously that’s got to be consistent with international law, and it’s got to be cost-effective," Starmer said.

 

Under the plan, Britain would pay partner countries to accept failed asylum seekers. The Netherlands is currently negotiating with Uganda about setting up a return hub, a model that has been endorsed by both the European Union and the United Nations International Organisation for Migration. The hubs would allow the UK to deport failed asylum seekers from countries considered unsafe for direct return, such as Afghanistan, Iran, and Somalia. Those from safe countries, including Vietnam, Pakistan, and India, could be held temporarily while arrangements were made for their deportation.

 

Starmer and Cooper also expressed willingness to consider an Italian proposal for offshore asylum processing camps in Albania, where claims would be assessed before migrants were either accepted into the UK or rejected.

 

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni defended her government’s model, stating in a recorded message at the summit that "Governments should not be afraid to imagine and build innovative solutions." She claimed that initial skepticism over her offshore processing approach had turned into broad support, leading the EU to propose return hubs in third countries.

 

"This means that we were right and that the courage to lead the way has been rewarded," she added.

 

Starmer has abandoned the previous Conservative government's plan to send illegal migrants and asylum seekers to Rwanda for processing and resettlement. He argued that Labour inherited a disorganized border enforcement system that had allowed people smugglers to exploit weaknesses and bring thousands of illegal migrants into the UK.

 

He criticized the previous administration for poor coordination between policing, border forces, and intelligence agencies, which he claimed made Britain "a soft touch" for illegal migration. "Smugglers took this as an open invitation," he said, vowing to strengthen enforcement and explore new solutions to curb illegal crossings.

 

Based on a report by The Telegraph  2025-04-02

 

 

 

 

1 hour ago, Social Media said:

Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has defended human rights lawyers who have blocked deportations of foreign criminals and illegal migrants, stating that they are simply fulfilling their professional duty.

 

Of course.

 

He is one of them. 

 

He also wants as many immigrants as possible, legal or illegal (despite his protestations to the contrary). 

And that’s why he shouldn’t be PM as he can’t be impartial Ashe has been a HRL most of his working life 

Of course he defends them they are his ex subordinates 

11 minutes ago, jippytum said:

Of course he defends them they are his ex subordinates 

Maybe he understands the right to legal representation and why it’s important a bit better than you do.

Dhh'!  here's a thought your PM Sir halfwit Keir' with a stonking majority change the law and boot this detritus out .. Better still don't let them in and smash the gangs like you promised instead of Lord Alli's' credit card 🤔

2 hours ago, Social Media said:

Starmer emphasized that the legal system depends on lawyers representing their clients, regardless of personal beliefs.

Much as I don't like how these lawyers are making money, they are entitled to be there and to do their job.  Starmer has said so too, see the quote.  What Sir Kier did before he was PM is relevant of course, but I don't think he's defending the law, rather defending the lawyers doing what they are paid to do.

 

I compare it to a defence lawyer defending a killer who is planning to plead guilty, but the lawyer has found that due process has not been followed so the charges get dropped.

 

As sammieuk1 said, the law could get changed to block this loophole.  Or, the defence of a right to a familiy life could get accepted, and the whole family could get deported instead?

What a terrible mess those governments in Europe are making of it, with the rampant importation of middle-eastern people, resulting in, knife attacks, murders committed with cars, areas in cities where you wouldn't dare go as a normal person.
Things are moving very fast now, and I am convinced that there is intent.

The terrible thing about it is that you are not allowed to name the reason, but we all know it is the ‘faith of peace’.

Whatever Starmer says about his fellow lawyers simply doing their job the fact is that the numbers of people arriving in the UK, both legally and Illegally, are way too high, and Britain's infrastructure and traditional culture are  being overwhelmed. 

6 hours ago, Social Media said:

Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has defended human rights lawyers who have blocked deportations of foreign criminals and illegal migrants, stating that they are simply fulfilling their professional duty.

 

So the law is a suicide pact?

I find it hard to imagine any leader thinking that more illegal immigrants is good for the country. What have illegal immigrants ever done for us, for god's sake?

 

Yes, I suppose we do need people to clean toilets and sweep roads. And pick fruit. And perhaps work on fishing boats. And collect trash cans. OK, perhaps some can wait tables. I'll give you that. Yes, yes, factory workers maybe. Could be sorting agricultural products, at a stretch sewing machine operators, dressmakers and tailors, maybe. Yeah, maids and housecleaners ok, I'll give you that. Sewage workers, probably. No, you don't need to remind me they work in construction laborers and as painters or bricklayers. 

But apart from cleaning toilets, sweeping roads, picking fruit, fishing, waste collection, sewing machine operators, dressmakers, tailors and agricultural labor, maids, housecleaners, sewage workers, construction labor, housepainters and bricklayers, what have illegal immigrants ever done for us?

5 hours ago, Purdey said:

I find it hard to imagine any leader thinking that more illegal immigrants is good for the country. What have illegal immigrants ever done for us, for god's sake?

 

Yes, I suppose we do need people to clean toilets and sweep roads. And pick fruit. And perhaps work on fishing boats. And collect trash cans. OK, perhaps some can wait tables. I'll give you that. Yes, yes, factory workers maybe. Could be sorting agricultural products, at a stretch sewing machine operators, dressmakers and tailors, maybe. Yeah, maids and housecleaners ok, I'll give you that. Sewage workers, probably. No, you don't need to remind me they work in construction laborers and as painters or bricklayers. 

But apart from cleaning toilets, sweeping roads, picking fruit, fishing, waste collection, sewing machine operators, dressmakers, tailors and agricultural labor, maids, housecleaners, sewage workers, construction labor, housepainters and bricklayers, what have illegal immigrants ever done for us?

What does Starmer’s defense of immigration lawyers have to do with any of that?

6 hours ago, Purdey said:

I find it hard to imagine any leader thinking that more illegal immigrants is good for the country. What have illegal immigrants ever done for us, for god's sake?

 

Yes, I suppose we do need people to clean toilets and sweep roads. And pick fruit. And perhaps work on fishing boats. And collect trash cans. OK, perhaps some can wait tables. I'll give you that. Yes, yes, factory workers maybe. Could be sorting agricultural products, at a stretch sewing machine operators, dressmakers and tailors, maybe. Yeah, maids and housecleaners ok, I'll give you that. Sewage workers, probably. No, you don't need to remind me they work in construction laborers and as painters or bricklayers. 

But apart from cleaning toilets, sweeping roads, picking fruit, fishing, waste collection, sewing machine operators, dressmakers, tailors and agricultural labor, maids, housecleaners, sewage workers, construction labor, housepainters and bricklayers, what have illegal immigrants ever done for us?

You are confused. Illegal immigrants, on the whole, don't work. Penalties for employing Illegal immigrants are high.

18 hours ago, Purdey said:

I find it hard to imagine any leader thinking that more illegal immigrants is good for the country. What have illegal immigrants ever done for us, for god's sake?

 

Yes, I suppose we do need people to clean toilets and sweep roads. And pick fruit. And perhaps work on fishing boats. And collect trash cans. OK, perhaps some can wait tables. I'll give you that. Yes, yes, factory workers maybe. Could be sorting agricultural products, at a stretch sewing machine operators, dressmakers and tailors, maybe. Yeah, maids and housecleaners ok, I'll give you that. Sewage workers, probably. No, you don't need to remind me they work in construction laborers and as painters or bricklayers. 

But apart from cleaning toilets, sweeping roads, picking fruit, fishing, waste collection, sewing machine operators, dressmakers, tailors and agricultural labor, maids, housecleaners, sewage workers, construction labor, housepainters and bricklayers, what have illegal immigrants ever done for us?

 

I got as far as fishing boats, then had to answer an urgent call.