Stay in the ECHR to put public good above political interest
04 Oct 2025
1 minute read
News
The Law Society of England and Wales strongly rejects calls to leave the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR), after Kemi Badenoch today announced that a future Conservative government would withdraw from the Convention.
“The Conservative Party is putting political interest above the public good,” said Law Society president Richard Atkinson.
“Human rights law does one thing above all else – it puts people first. It protects us from the power of the state. Without the backstop of the ECHR, governments of whatever party will be able to erode our rights with no come-back.
“It is not just about immigration. From keeping elderly couples together in care homes, to getting justice for the victims of the Black Cab rapist John Worboys and fighting for the truth about the Hillsborough disaster, the rights in the ECHR have served us time and again.
“It is striking that the Conservative Party, the voice of the small state and individual liberties, would want to take away these protections that serve us all. Staying within the ECHR is prioritising our national interest. We can tighten border controls without stripping the British public of their rights under the ECHR.”
About the Law Society
The Law Society is celebrating 200 years of supporting solicitors in England and Wales. It is the independent professional body that works globally to support and represent solicitors, promoting the highest professional standards, the public interest and the rule of law.