UK joins call for Europe's human rights laws to be constrained'

"Twenty-seven of the 46 Council of Europe members including the UK, Hungary and Italy have signed an unofficial statement that also urges a new framework for the European convention of human rights, which will also narrow the definition of inhuman and degrading treatment. The statement follows a meeting of the council in Strasbourg on Wednesday as part of a push to change the way the laws apply in migration cases."

"The UK's deputy prime minister, David Lammy, attended the meeting and was expected to argue that the rules must not stop countries tackling the problem of illegal migration. France, Spain and Germany are among those countries that have declined to sign the statement, instead putting their names to a separate, official declaration backed by all 46 governments. The two separate statements are signs of deep divisions across Europe over how to tackle irregular migration,"

"The letter signed by 27 countries said that article 3 of the convention, which bans inhuman or degrading treatment should be constrained to the most serious issues in a manner which does not prevent states parties from taking proportionate decisions on the expulsion of foreign criminals including in cases raising issues concerning healthcare and prison conditions."

Twenty-seven Council of Europe members, including the UK, Hungary and Italy, signed an unofficial statement calling for a new framework for the European Convention on Human Rights and a narrower definition of inhuman and degrading treatment. The signatories want Article 3 constrained to the most serious cases so states can make proportionate decisions on expelling foreign criminals, including where healthcare and prison conditions are factors. They also propose adjusting Article 8 to give greater weight to the nature and seriousness of offences than to a criminal's ties with the host country. Major states chose a separate declaration, revealing deep European divisions over irregular migration and rights protections.

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