Why Labour's bid to reform ECHR is freighted with risk

Shabana Mahmood has said the European Convention on Human Rights must be reformed to restore public confidence as Keir Starmer's government seeks to tackle the issue head-on.

- ARCHIE MITCHELL

The justice secretary joined calls for an overhaul of the convention, warning that "public confidence in the rule of law is fraying" and "there is a growing perception human rights laws are a tool for criminals to avoid responsibility".

Similar comments were made by Tory party leader Kemi Badenoch, who this month warned human rights laws had gone from being a "shield" to a "sword used to attack democracies".

Falling in line with those calling for the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR) to be overhauled, but stopping short of calling for the UK to pull out, Mahmood told European ambassadors: "The European Convention on Human Rights is one of the great achievements of post-war politics. It has endured because it has evolved. Now, it must do so again." So will Starmer be able to quell the grumblings of the Conservatives and Reform UK - or does he risk falling into the same trap as David Cameron, failing to deliver and emboldening his Eurosceptic critics?