Standing Up for Human Rights

Yesterday, I was proud to stand up for Britain’s values - and was grateful to be the Teller announcing that Parliament had voted down Nigel Farage’s dangerous Bill that would have taken the UK out of the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR).

The Bill was defeated by 154 votes to 96, with Liberal Democrat leader Ed Davey leading our party’s strong opposition. The Liberal Democrats stood united against what was an extreme and reckless proposal, one that would have undermined decades of progress on justice, equality, and international cooperation.

The UK helped to create the ECHR in the wake of the Second World War. British lawyers and politicians were at the heart of shaping it, determined to ensure that the horrors of war and dictatorship could never happen again in Europe. The Convention enshrines basic, universal rights: the right to a fair trial, freedom from torture, freedom of speech, and the right to privacy. These aren’t abstract ideals; they are the foundation of our democracy and a safeguard for every single one of us.

Leaving the ECHR would make the UK the only country in Europe outside the Convention other than Belarus and Russia. That’s not the company we should be keeping, and it’s certainly not the legacy that those who helped build the modern human rights system envisioned for our country.

Farage’s proposal was nothing more than another distraction, designed to grab headlines rather than solve problems. It would have done nothing to address the real issues facing our asylum system - the backlog of cases, the taxpayer money, and the failure to provide safe, legal routes for those fleeing persecution.

Instead of tearing up human rights, we should be fixing the system. That means clearing the asylum backlog, allowing those with legitimate claims to work, pay taxes, and contribute to our communities, and ensuring fairness and compassion are at the heart of our approach.

The Liberal Democrats have always stood for international cooperation and the rule of law, and yesterday’s vote reaffirmed that commitment.