Kemi Badenoch has justified the UK’s potential withdrawal from the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR) by citing countries that are not geographically located in Europe.
During the Conservative Party conference, the Tory leader indicated that if they were to win the next election, they would pull the UK out of the international treaty as part of an effort to manage immigration, sparking strong reactions. Defending the decision, Ms Badenoch emphasized the necessity of safeguarding the country’s borders, veterans, and citizens.
In a recent appearance on the BBC’s Sunday program with Laura Kuenssberg, Ms Badenoch was questioned about aligning the UK with nations like Russia and Belarus in exiting the European Convention on Human Rights. In response, she pointed out several countries that are not party to the convention, all of which are situated outside Europe.
Ms Badenoch highlighted that countries such as the United States, Australia, and Canada are not signatories to the agreement, emphasizing that human rights are not contingent on membership in the ECHR. She stressed that human rights have existed long before the establishment of the ECHR and the Human Rights Act.
The ECHR guarantees fundamental rights such as the right to life, liberty, a fair trial, respect for private and family life, freedom of expression and assembly, as well as protection against torture, cruel treatment, slavery, and discrimination.
Critics from the Labour party ridiculed Ms Badenoch’s remarks, referencing a recent blunder she made during a TV interview concerning Brexit and Northern Ireland. They mocked her lack of knowledge in European affairs beyond the Northern Ireland issue.
The proposed policy forms part of a broader “borders plan” that includes measures akin to a Donald Trump-style crackdown on immigration, supported by the introduction of a new deportation force inspired by the US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agency.
The Conservative Party aims to deport approximately 750,000 individuals throughout the upcoming Parliament term, surpassing the 600,000 deportations targeted by Reform UK’s “mass deportation” strategy unveiled earlier in the year.
Ms Badenoch also warned that any Conservative member who opposes her plan will be barred from running as a candidate for the party in the next general election, as stated during an interview on the Camilla Tominey Show on GB News.
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