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The UK looks set to reject EU demands to stick to the European Convention on Human Rights, sparking a massive Brexit row.

Brussels chiefs have demanded Britain obeys the ECHR - which enshrines rights to family life, free speech and protection from discrimination - as an explicit part of a trade deal after Brexit .

The EU's opening statement last week said Britain must stick to the Convention as part of any deal, otherwise co-operation over law enforcement will be "automatically terminated".

But Britain's opening statement says the UK should be free to choose how human rights are upheld.

According to the Sunday Telegraph, British officials will argue the ECHR should have no place in a trade deal with the EU. A Tory source told the newspaper the EU's demands were "inappropriate", adding: "We will uphold human rights in our way."

(Image: Getty Images)

Even after Brexit, Britain is governed by the 1998 Human Rights Act which encodes the ECHR into law.

However, the Tories' 2019 election manifesto vowed to "update" the 1998 Act to "ensure there is a proper balance between the rights of individuals, our vital national security and effective government."

Senior Tories have also repeatedly hit out at the ECHR, claiming it has been "abused" including on giving prisoners the right to vote.

Boris Johnson's top aide Dominic Cummings wrote in 2018: "If I get involved in politics again, then a referendum on the ECHR should be high on the agenda.

"Bear in mind most people probably think we’re already leaving it because of the 2016 referendum, so imagine how mad they’ll be when they realise we’re still in it."

(Image: Peter Summers)

But a Lib Dem spokesman said: "We must not allow Boris Johnson & Dominic Cummings to rip up the UK’s proud commitment to human rights.

" Liberal Democrats will oppose any attempts to withdraw from the ECHR."

The EU's opening submission for a trade deal said the UK's "continuing commitment to respect the ECHR" must be part of any deal after 1 January 2021.

It added: "The envisaged partnership should provide for automatic termination of the law enforcement cooperation and judicial cooperation in criminal matters if the UK were to denounce the ECHR.

"It should also provide for automatic suspension if the UK were to abrogate domestic law giving effect to the ECHR, thus making it impossible for individuals to invoke the rights under the ECHR before the UK’s courts."

However, the UK's submission says: "Cooperation will be underpinned by the importance attached by the UK and the EU to safeguarding human rights, the rule of law and high standards of data protection.

"The agreement should not specify how the UK or the EU Member States should protect and enforce human rights and the rule of law within their own autonomous legal systems."