Could Keir Starmer be just the man to reform the ECHR?

There is no one better suited than Sir Keir Starmer to lead efforts to reform the European Convention on Human Rights.
That is not the view of a Labour politician but of Jeremy Hunt, the former Conservative chancellor. Writing in his new book, he points to the prime minister's background as a human rights lawyer who has supported and defended the rights enshrined in the ECHR — making his credentials for reforming it 'impeccable'.
Labour MPs and even those who sit around the cabinet table are less certain.
Shabana Mahmood, the justice secretary who is leading the UK's case for reform of the ECHR, has told colleagues that even she is unsure of what the prime minister wants to achieve or how far he is prepared to go on changing the 75-year-old convention.

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North Wales Chronicle

13 minutes ago

• North Wales Chronicle

Security review launched after Pro-Palestinian activists break into RAF base

Footage posted online by Palestine Action on Friday morning shows two people inside RAF Brize Norton in Oxfordshire. The clip shows one person riding an electric scooter up to an Airbus Voyager air-to-air refuelling tanker and appearing to spray paint into its jet engine. The incident is being investigated by counter terror police. Defence Secretary John Healey said he was 'disturbed' by the vandalism, while Sir Keir Starmer said it was 'disgraceful'. 'I am really disturbed that this happened and have ordered an investigation and a review of wider security at our bases,' Mr Healey said. 'These aircraft are used by our military personnel to support security and peace around the world. 'This action does nothing to support Gaza or our push for peace and stability in the Middle East.' Downing Street said security is being reviewed across the defence estate and that the Government is working closely with police. The act of vandalism committed at RAF Brize Norton is disgraceful. Our Armed Forces represent the very best of Britain and put their lives on the line for us every day. It is our responsibility to support those who defend us. — Keir Starmer (@Keir_Starmer) June 20, 2025 A No 10 spokesman said: 'A full security review is under way at Brize Norton. 'We are reviewing security across the whole defence estate. 'We treat all breaches of security very seriously, and where there is suspected criminal activity, we will take the necessary steps to investigate and prosecute in line with longstanding principle.' He said the incident had not disrupted any planned aircraft movements or operations. A spokesman for the campaign group said: 'Despite publicly condemning the Israeli Government, Britain continues to send military cargo, fly spy planes over Gaza and refuel US/Israeli fighter jets. 'Britain isn't just complicit, it's an active participant in the Gaza genocide and war crimes across the Middle East. 'By decommissioning two military planes, Palestine Action have directly intervened in the genocide and prevented crimes against the Palestinian people.' RAF Brize Norton serves as the hub for UK strategic air transport and refuelling, including flights to RAF Akrotiri in Cyprus. A Ministry of Defence spokesman said: 'We strongly condemn this vandalism of Royal Air Force assets. We are working closely with the police who are investigating. 'Our Armed Forces represent the very best of Britain. 'They put their lives on the line for us, and their display of duty, dedication and selfless personal sacrifice are an inspiration to us all. 'It is our responsibility to support those who defend us.' Sir Keir said in a post on X: 'The act of vandalism committed at RAF Brize Norton is disgraceful. 'Our Armed Forces represent the very best of Britain and put their lives on the line for us every day. 'It is our responsibility to support those who defend us.' A Counter Terrorism Policing South East statement said: 'Specialist counter terrorism officers are working closely with officers from Thames Valley Police and the Ministry of Defence Police. 'Inquiries are ongoing to establish the exact circumstances.'

Spectator

34 minutes ago

• Spectator

Poll: majority of Brits think small boats unstoppable

Summer is here! And you know what gorgeous weather means: more small boats crossing the Channel. Get ready for the great Starmada in the coming weeks, as thousands more migrants prepare to sail the 21 miles from Calais to Dover. The current crisis has been going on since 2018, when Sajid Javid – the-then Home Secretary – felt the need to cut short his holiday after 100 migrants crossed in a 24-hour period. Those were the days… Now Mr S has got some polling and it seems that the public are accepting these crossings as inevitable. A survey done by Merlin Strategy of 2,000 UK adults between 17 and 18 June shows that 51 per cent of Brits think that the government will never be able to stop the boats – including 7 in 10 Reform 2024 voters. Some two thirds (66 per cent) say the Starmer government does not have control over Britain's borders while the same figure (67 per cent) believe, correctly, that the number of Channel crossings has increased this year – compared to just seven per cent who think they have dropped. Unsurpisingly, therefore, seven in ten say the government must do whatever it takes to stop the boats. That UK-France summit cannot come soon enough…

BBC News

an hour ago

• BBC News

'Everyone is scared': Iranians head to Armenia to escape conflict with Israel

It's hot, dusty and feels like a desert at the Agarak border crossing between Armenia and are dry, rocky mountains surrounding the area - no trees, no shade. It's not the most welcoming terrain, especially for those who have travelled long hours to reach Armenia.A woman with a fashionable haircut, with the lower half of her head shaven, is holding her baby, while her husband negotiates a price with taxi drivers. There's another family of three with a little boy travelling back to their country of residence, of those crossing into Armenia appeared to have residency or citizenship in other countries. Many were leaving because of the conflict between Israel and Iran, now in its eighth day. "Today I saw one site where the bombing happened," said a father standing with a small child near the minivan that they just hired. They had travelled from the north-western town of Tabriz."All the people are scared, every place is dangerous, it's not normal," he conflict began on 13 June, when Israel attacked nuclear and military sites as well as some populated areas. The Human Rights Activists News Agency (HRANA) - a Washington-based human rights organisation that has long tracked Iran - says 657 people have so far been killed. Iran has retaliated with missile attacks on Israel, killing at least 24 says it has established air superiority over Tehran and has told people to leave some of its districts. In recent days, heavy traffic jams have formed on roads out of the city as some of its 10 million residents seek safety who drove to Armenia from Tehran said the journey had taken at least 12 hours. Several told us that they did not see the Israeli strikes - but heard the sound of explosions they caused."It was troubling there. Every night, attacks from Israel. I just escaped from there by very hard way. There were no flights, not any other ways come from there," said a young Afghan man with a single suitcase, who did not want to be described the situation in Tehran as "very bad". "People who have somewhere to go, they are leaving. Every night is like attacking, people cannot sleep, because of the sounds of explosions, the situation is not good at all," he said. A young woman with white headscarf and thick fake lashes said she was heading back to her country of residence, Australia."I saw something that is very hard, I don't want to talk about it," she said as she boarded a car with several others for the onward journey to the Armenian capital Yerevan. "Someone comes and attacks your country, would you feel normal?"Some Israeli ministers have talked up the possibility that the conflict could lead to regime collapse in Iran. But Javad - who had been visiting the north-eastern city of Sabzevar for the summer holidays and was heading back to Germany - said he thought this was unlikely."Israel has no chance. Israel is not a friend for us, it's an enemy," he said. "Israel cannot come to our home to help us. Israel needs to change something for itself not for us." Some Iranians at the border however were crossing were travelling in the other direction. The previous evening, Ali Ansaye, who had been holidaying in Armenia with his family, was heading back to Tehran."I have no concerns, and I am not scared at all. If I am supposed to die, I will die in my country," he said. He said Israel was "harassing the entire world – Gaza, Lebanon and other countries"."How can such a small country have nuclear weapons?" he asked. "Based on which law can this country have a bomb, and Iran, which has only focused on peaceful nuclear energy and not a bomb, cannot?"Israel is widely believed to have nuclear weapons, although it neither confirms nor denies this.