Sir Keir rules out UK quitting ECHR

SIR KEIR Starmer has ruled out quitting the European Court of Human Rights because he says it would jeopardise deportation deals and hinder the fight to restore control of our borders.

- By Michael Knowles Home Affairs Editor

The Prime Minister said countries would refuse to sign agreements with the UK "if in the next breath, you'll say you don't believe in international law".

But the Home Office has confirmed it will overhaul how Article 8 of the European Convention on Human Rights is used in immigration cases.

This year ministers will bring forward legislation so that fewer cases are treated as "exceptional".

Asked if going further on immigration would require "disentangling ourselves" from the ECHR, Sir Keir said: "No, I don't think that is necessary.

"I also remind myself the international agreements we've signed have given us the basis for deals we've struck on illegal migration.

"So the Home Secretary has moved fast, working with other countries to put in place materially improved deals with other countries in relation to migration that would not have been possible if we had been saying at the same time we're about to withdraw from our international obligations.

Removal