Misinformation on ECHR Fuels 'Hostility, Mistrust, and Bad Law' Warns Human Rights Group
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Successive UK Governments have dismantled British safeguards against wrongful immigration decisions - forcing claimants to rely solely on the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR), Amnesty International argues.
It comes as the Labour Home Secretary reviews the human rights framework Britain helped establish.
The Government has confirmed a review of how the European Convention on Human Rights is applied to UK immigration law, following a number of high-profile cases of non-British criminals successfully 'avoiding' deportation.
Home Secretary Yvette Cooper's review will look at how the courts are applying the law on a 'right to a family life' for people who enter the UK irregularly.
She seems set to restrict the powers of judges to grant asylum under the European Convention on Human Rights. Yvette Cooper told MPs the Government would draw up a "clear framework" for judges to ensure decisions fit "what I think the public would want to see".
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Last week, justice secretary Shabana Mahmood also said Britain will pursue reform of the European convention itself, as "public confidence in the rule of law is fraying", following growing right-wing hostility to the ECHR.
Her claims came in a speech to the Council of Europe, which oversees the convention.
The Government has ruled out leaving the ECHR, but Reform UK - which is leading in the polls - is committed to leaving, and the Conservatives are widely expected to announce their own commitment to doing so later this. Opposition leader Kemi Badenoch has launched a review into potentially quitting the ECHR, which would see the UK joining the likes of Russia and Belarus.
But in briefings published this week, Amnesty details how "political decisions and media distortions" have misled the public about the role of Article 8 - the section of the ECHR which protects everyone in Britain's right to a private and family life.
Amnesty argues this has "stoked hostility, undermined justice, and paved the way for damaging legal reforms" in the face of right-wing hostility.
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The briefings explain how post-2006 changes - including the removal of key protections over deportation decisions and, in 2014, a restriction of deportation appeals to human rights grounds only - have made Article 8, the right to privat
Packed with exclusive investigations, analysis, and features…
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Successive UK Governments have dismantled British safeguards against wrongful immigration decisions - forcing claimants to rely solely on the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR), Amnesty International argues.
It comes as the Labour Home Secretary reviews the human rights framework Britain helped establish.
The Government has confirmed a review of how the European Convention on Human Rights is applied to UK immigration law, following a number of high-profile cases of non-British criminals successfully 'avoiding' deportation.
Home Secretary Yvette Cooper's review will look at how the courts are applying the law on a 'right to a family life' for people who enter the UK irregularly.
She seems set to restrict the powers of judges to grant asylum under the European Convention on Human Rights. Yvette Cooper told MPs the Government would draw up a "clear framework" for judges to ensure decisions fit "what I think the public would want to see".
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Receive the monthly Byline Times newspaper and help to support fearless, independent journalism that breaks stories, shapes the agenda and holds power to account.
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We're not funded by a billionaire oligarch or an offshore hedge-fund. We rely on our readers to fund our journalism. If you like what we do, please subscribe.
Last week, justice secretary Shabana Mahmood also said Britain will pursue reform of the European convention itself, as "public confidence in the rule of law is fraying", following growing right-wing hostility to the ECHR.
Her claims came in a speech to the Council of Europe, which oversees the convention.
The Government has ruled out leaving the ECHR, but Reform UK - which is leading in the polls - is committed to leaving, and the Conservatives are widely expected to announce their own commitment to doing so later this. Opposition leader Kemi Badenoch has launched a review into potentially quitting the ECHR, which would see the UK joining the likes of Russia and Belarus.
But in briefings published this week, Amnesty details how "political decisions and media distortions" have misled the public about the role of Article 8 - the section of the ECHR which protects everyone in Britain's right to a private and family life.
Amnesty argues this has "stoked hostility, undermined justice, and paved the way for damaging legal reforms" in the face of right-wing hostility.
Don't miss a story
SIGN UP TO EMAIL UPDATES
The briefings explain how post-2006 changes - including the removal of key protections over deportation decisions and, in 2014, a restriction of deportation appeals to human rights grounds only - have made Article 8, the right to privat
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