Boris Johnson’s Conservative Party stands accused of being an ‘abhorrent mix of nationalists, nativists and narcissists’ (Picture: Getty Images)

The Government is reportedly set to reject a request for Britain to remain aligned with European human rights laws.

EU negotiators are expected to request that Britain remains signed up to the European Convention of Human Rights (ECHR), but Britain is set to demand it be fully legally independent, according to The Sunday Telegraph. That would allow the country to repeal the Human Rights Act at a later date.

The EU’s opening position suggests it would automatically end all ‘law enforcement co-operation and judicial co-operation in criminal matters’ if the UK ‘denounces’ the ECHR. Boris Johnson’s Conservatives have long been sceptical of the Act, with the party threatening to scrap it previously.



The party’s manifesto says: ‘After Brexit we also need to look at the broader aspects of our constitution: the relationship between the Government, Parliament and the courts; the functioning of the Royal Prerogative; the role of the House of Lords; and access to justice for ordinary people.


‘The ability of our security services to defend us against terrorism and organised crime is critical. We will update the Human Rights Act and administrative law to ensure that there is a proper balance between the rights of individuals, our vital national security and effective government.’

It also claims that after Brexit Britain ‘will continue to be an outward-looking country that is a champion (and beacon) of… human rights’

Interim Liberal Democrat leader Ed Davey tweeted: ‘Britain should be championing human rights, not trashing them – and our global reputation along with.

‘After WW2 we helped create the European Convention & Court, with Churchill playing key role.

‘I love our country. This is not who we are.’

Labour’s former leader the party’s MEPs, Seb Dance, added: ‘The European Convention on Human Rights predates the EU. It was born in the aftermath of the horrors of WW2. It was drafted by British human rights lawyers – who were leaders in the field.

‘Today’s Conservative Party is an abhorrent mix of nationalists, nativists and narcissists.’

But quoting an editorial in The Telegraph, the Leave.EU group said: ‘the suggestion that the UK can’t be trusted to uphold human rights on its own is insulting and historically illiterate.’

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