London, UK – May 30, 2025 – The UK’s Attorney General, Lord Hermer, has sharply criticized Conservative Party leader Kemi Badenoch for her suggestion that the UK may need to withdraw from the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR). In a strongly worded speech at the Law Society on May 29, 2025, Hermer described Badenoch’s stance as a “direct attack on the rule of law,” arguing that exiting the ECHR would undermine the UK’s commitment to human rights and international legal standards.
Badenoch, in a February 2025 speech at the Policy Exchange think tank, stated that if the ECHR continued to hinder the UK’s ability to act in its national interest, particularly on immigration and border control, the country would “probably have to leave” the treaty. She reiterated this position in November 2024, signaling a review of the ECHR and the Human Rights Act as part of a broader Conservative immigration policy overhaul, describing the current system as “broken.” Badenoch argued that ECHR rulings have “mutated” over time, limiting the UK’s ability to control borders and deport foreign criminals, citing cases like the halting of Rwanda deportation flights and a Palestinian family’s right to remain in the UK under a Ukrainian visa scheme.
Lord Hermer, a former human rights barrister, countered that withdrawing from the ECHR would weaken the UK’s global standing and embolden authoritarian regimes. “The ECHR is a cornerstone of our human rights framework,” he said, emphasizing its role in protecting fundamental freedoms across 46 signatory countries since 1950. He accused Badenoch of prioritizing political expediency over legal integrity, warning that such a move could destabilize the Good Friday Agreement, which incorporates the ECHR, and damage the UK’s reputation as a defender of the rule of law. Hermer also dismissed Badenoch’s claim that international courts are being used to advance “activist political agendas,” arguing that the ECHR’s rulings are grounded in established legal principles.
The dispute has reignited tensions within the Conservative Party, with Badenoch’s leadership rival Robert Jenrick previously advocating for an ECHR exit as a “leave or remain” issue to secure borders, a stance Badenoch had earlier called an “easy answer” during the 2024 Tory leadership race. Posts on X reflect the polarized sentiment, with users like @quangels and @BaronessGoudie amplifying Hermer’s criticism, noting, “UK’s top lawyer attacks Badenoch over call to leave European human rights treaty.”
Labour, led by Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer, a former human rights lawyer, has seized on the controversy, with Home Office Minister Angela Eagle stating, “The Tories have learned nothing from their failed Rwanda gimmick,” accusing Badenoch of recycling ineffective policies. Meanwhile, Badenoch maintains that any exit would be part of a detailed plan, drawing on her engineering background to emphasize practical solutions over rhetoric. She has suggested amending the Human Rights Act to limit its use in deportation cases, arguing that parliamentary sovereignty should take precedence.
The debate underscores a broader divide over the UK’s role in international law, with Badenoch’s critics warning that leaving the ECHR could isolate the UK diplomatically, while her supporters argue it’s necessary to restore national control over immigration. The issue remains a flashpoint as the Conservatives craft their 2029 election strategy.
