UK and EU Reaffirm Human Rights Commitment Despite Domestic Pressure

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UK and EU Reaffirm Human Rights Commitment Despite Domestic Pressure

 

Britain and the European Union are poised to make a joint commitment to the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR) at an upcoming summit, marking a significant moment in Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s efforts to reset the UK’s post-Brexit relationship with the bloc. According to a leaked draft of the joint statement prepared for the summit on May 19, both sides will emphasize the importance of upholding national law and international agreements, including the ECHR.

 

The document states that the UK and EU are “committed” not only to United Nations accords but also specifically to the European Convention on Human Rights. This declaration comes despite growing pressure from some Right-leaning Labour MPs and figures representing Red Wall constituencies, who have urged Starmer to reconsider Britain’s adherence to the ECHR.

 

 

Rather than aligning with these calls, the leaked draft underlines a continued partnership in upholding human rights obligations. The text also deliberately avoids controversial language around immigration, using the term “irregular” migration in place of “illegal” migration. “We recognise the shared challenge of irregular migration and the need to work across the whole route to address it,” the statement reads. “We note too the importance of securing our collective borders, while remaining committed to ensuring international protection for those who need it.”

 

Starmer has framed the upcoming summit as the beginning of a broader “Brexit reset,” which he hopes will pave the way for improved UK-EU relations after years of tensions under Conservative leadership. One of the key goals of the summit is to establish a new defence and security pact with the EU. Additionally, the Labour government is aiming to initiate talks that would smooth trade across borders, particularly for food products, and facilitate energy exchanges between Britain and Europe.

 

The leaked document emerges against a backdrop of ongoing debate around the role of the ECHR in UK immigration courts. Critics argue that the convention, particularly Article Eight which covers the right to a family life, has been exploited by lawyers to prevent the deportation of foreign criminals and undocumented migrants. Although Labour is working on proposals to reform how the ECHR is applied in court decisions, Starmer and his ministers have made clear that they have no intention of abandoning or circumventing the convention itself.

 

This position has drawn sharp criticism from the Conservative opposition. Chris Philp, the shadow home secretary, condemned the Labour government’s approach, saying, “This document shows Labour will not take the action needed to secure our borders. They are more interested in the ECHR, which is twisted by immigration lawyers and judges to allow dangerous foreign criminals and illegal immigrants to stay in the UK, than they are about protecting our borders.”

 

Philp also criticised the language used in the draft statement. “The reference to ‘irregular’ migration is also absurd – people crossing the Channel or Mediterranean are illegal immigrants. So long as we are led by Keir Starmer, a weak human rights lawyer, our borders will not be secure. It’s no surprise that 2025 so far has been the worst year in history for illegal immigrants crossing the channel under Starmer and Labour,” he said.

 

Despite this criticism, the Labour government appears determined to strengthen cooperation with the EU, while upholding international legal standards. The summit is expected to serve as a litmus test for Starmer’s broader ambitions to reframe Britain’s global posture and reinforce diplomatic ties once strained by Brexit-era divisions.

 

  Adpated by ASEAN Now from The Telegraph  2025-05-07

 

 

[JonnyF]

No surprise.

 

Starmer was a human rights lawyer and still is a Remainer. He has no respect for the people who voted to leave the EU. 

 

He will do as much to reverse Brexit as he possibly can before he loses power, despite having no mandate to do so.  

[Chomper Higgot]

No surprise, the UK played an instrumental part in the founding and drafting of Human Rights Law.

 

Human Rights Laws are something the UK can be very rightly proud of:

 

https://eachother.org.uk/churchills-fight-human-rights/

[connda]

Human Rights:

"Vote the wrong way and you are a terrorist!"
"Pray on the streets and you're breaking the law and will be imprisoned."
"Criticize the government at your own peril."
"Men who say they are women - are women - and if you say different you'll be locked up."
"There are only two parties: Tories and Labor.  If you are in a different party, you are a terrorist."

"White people are bad people.  If you say anything different, you'll be thrown into prison as a racist."
"All Palestinians are terrorists.  Say anything different and you are a terrorist too."
"Ukraine is the most Democratic country in Europe.  If you say anything different, you'll be press-ganged and sent to the Eastern Front."
"Putin is Hitler.  Say anything different, and you're Putin's Puppet and a terrorist."
"If your daughters were gang raped by migrants, shut up and get over it.  They are invited guest of the government.  Complain and both you and your daughters will be imprisoned as racists and xenophobes.  Gang rapes and grooming gangs are just "boys having a little fun. Stop complaining!"

"Orban is a terrorist.  If you agree with Orban you're a terrorist.  We're working on getting rid of him."

"If you don't like the unelected European Union and your unelected leaders, you'll be put on a List.  By the way, this is called "Democracy" and if you call it anything else - you're a terrorist!"

[Chomper Higgot]

2 minutes ago, connda said:

Human Rights:

"Vote the wrong way and you are a terrorist!"
"Pray on the streets and you're breaking the law and will be imprisoned."
"Criticize the government at your own peril."
"Men who say they are women - are women - and if you say different you'll be locked up."
"There are only two parties: Tories and Labor.  If you are in a different party, you are a terrorist."

"White people are bad people.  If you say anything different, you'll be thrown into prison as a racist."
"All Palestinians are terrorists.  Say anything different and you are a terrorist too."
"Ukraine is the most Democratic country in Europe.  If you say anything different, you'll be press-ganged and sent to the Eastern Front."
"Putin is Hitler.  Say anything different, and you're Putin's Puppet and a terrorist."

"Orban is a terrorist.  If you agree with Orban you're a terrorist.  We're working on getting rid of him."

"If you don't like the unelected European Union and your unelected leaders, you'll be put on a List.  By the way, this is called "Democracy" and if you call it anything else - you're a terrorist!"

I haven’t checked but I believe the right to feel permanently aggrieved on the basis of any imaginable basis is protected under HR Law.

 

 

[Bkk Brian]

23 minutes ago, Chomper Higgot said:

No surprise, the UK played an instrumental part in the founding and drafting of Human Rights Law.

 

Human Rights Laws are something the UK can be very rightly proud of:

 

https://eachother.org.uk/churchills-fight-human-rights/

5 days ago, Starmers own Justice Secretary said "Don’t turn a blind eye to problems with ECHR"

 

So what does he do? Turn a blind eye of course.

 

"The Justice Secretary replied: “I don’t think it’s a responsible attitude of the Government, and certainly not a Government that supports the convention and Human Rights Act and our human rights related arrangements in this country, to simply adopt a position of there’s nothing to see here and look the other way."

 

“I think there is enough in some of the cases. They’re not all, sadly, completely spurious. Some do not always stand up to scrutiny when you get into the full facts, and they do raise questions over whether the law is working as it should.”

 

https://archive.ph/Ko87g

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/politics/2025/04/30/dont-turn-blind-eye-problems-echr-says-justice-secretary/

[zyphodb]

3 hours ago, Chomper Higgot said:

No surprise, the UK played an instrumental part in the founding and drafting of Human Rights Law.

 

Human Rights Laws are something the UK can be very rightly proud of:

 

https://eachother.org.uk/churchills-fight-human-rights/

 

It's a shame that our present government ignores human rights if the humans are Palestinians, Lebanese or Syrian then...  

[zyphodb]

Or on a protest ship...

 

[zyphodb]

3 hours ago, connda said:

Human Rights:

"Vote the wrong way and you are a terrorist!"
"Pray on the streets and you're breaking the law and will be imprisoned."
"Criticize the government at your own peril."
"Men who say they are women - are women - and if you say different you'll be locked up."
"There are only two parties: Tories and Labor.  If you are in a different party, you are a terrorist."

"White people are bad people.  If you say anything different, you'll be thrown into prison as a racist."
"All Palestinians are terrorists.  Say anything different and you are a terrorist too."
"Ukraine is the most Democratic country in Europe.  If you say anything different, you'll be press-ganged and sent to the Eastern Front."
"Putin is Hitler.  Say anything different, and you're Putin's Puppet and a terrorist."
"If your daughters were gang raped by migrants, shut up and get over it.  They are invited guest of the government.  Complain and both you and your daughters will be imprisoned as racists and xenophobes.  Gang rapes and grooming gangs are just "boys having a little fun. Stop complaining!"

"Orban is a terrorist.  If you agree with Orban you're a terrorist.  We're working on getting rid of him."

"If you don't like the unelected European Union and your unelected leaders, you'll be put on a List.  By the way, this is called "Democracy" and if you call it anything else - you're a terrorist!"

 

Beat me to it, well done...

[jippytum]

The ECHR should have been abolished with regards to the UK after Brexit. 

It is keeping convicted crimal illegal immigrants in the Uk backed by Starmer

[mikeymike100]

39 minutes ago, jippytum said:

The ECHR should have been abolished with regards to the UK after Brexit. 

It is keeping convicted crimal illegal immigrants in the Uk backed by Starmer

Agreed, why they are tied to Europe still is beyond comprehension.

Lets hope Farage wins the next election and keeps his promise to leave the ECHR!

[Purdey]

Upholding international agreements is the sign of a civilised country. Any changes to the ECHR can only be made as a signatory. 

[Bkk Brian]

7 minutes ago, Purdey said:

Upholding international agreements is the sign of a civilised country. Any changes to the ECHR can only be made as a signatory. 

How can the UK which is not a member state make changes?

 

"The European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR) can be changed by agreement among all member states of the Council of Europe."

 

You have it all wrong, the UK is agreeing to uphold ECHR and so if necessary UK laws have to be changed to accommodate it.

[GanDoonToonPet]

ECHR is enshrined in the UK Human Rights Act so not needed any more. Our owns courts can apply it!

 

Look at the Rwanda Bill shambles. It passed through the UK High Court, Appeals Court, and Supreme Court but was bazooka'd by an 'emergency stop' applied by the ECHR. This decision was taken in private without UK representation.

 

We don't need a 'star chamber' to oversee our courts' interpretation of human rights law!

 

 

[newbee2022]

8 hours ago, connda said:

"If you don't like the unelected European Union and your unelected leaders, you'll be put on a List.  By the way, this is called "Democracy" and if you call it anything else - you're a terrorist

Who is unelected ???😳