Why is the UK leading the charge to curb asylum rights under the ECHR?

"The United Kingdom is a leading voice in the charge to modernise the ECHR. The government says the ECHR, particularly its protections against torture and family separation, makes it too difficult to control our borders to protect our democracies. But Starmer's message marks a significant shift in his Labour Party's traditional approach to human rights law and asylum policy. Furthermore, migration experts and rights groups are warning that weakening ECHR protections could expose vulnerable people to serious harm."

"British Prime Minister Keir Starmer has urged European leaders to go further in modernising the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR), arguing that the treaty is no longer fit for purpose in an era of irregular migration and as far-right political parties gain influence across Europe. On Wednesday, European countries agreed to begin the process of modernising the ECHR at a meeting of justice ministers in Strasbourg. Leaders are hoping to modify the treaty to make it easier to deport undocumented migrants."

"Ahead of the Strasbourg meeting on Wednesday, Starmer urged European governments to agree to modernise the ECHR, arguing that current interpretations of the treaty make it too difficult for states to remove people who arrive irregularly, via routes which are not approved by the government. This would most likely be achieved by carving out exceptions to provisions in the ECHR which protect specific rights, or changing the legal interpretation of these rights."

Keir Starmer has called on European leaders to modernise the European Convention on Human Rights to address irregular migration and rising far-right influence. European justice ministers agreed to begin the process of updating the treaty to make deporting undocumented migrants easier. Proposed changes focus on narrowing or reinterpreting Article 3 protections against torture and Article 8 protections for family life to allow more removals. The UK is a leading advocate for reform, arguing current protections hinder border control and democratic stability. Migration experts and rights groups warn that weakening protections could expose vulnerable people to serious harm.

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