Latest news with #EdDavey
Gulf Today
a day ago
- Politics
- Gulf Today
Britain must be ready to reform international agreements
Something extraordinary has just happened. In March, Yvette Cooper, the home secretary, said that she was reviewing the way the European Convention on Human Rights was being interpreted by the courts. Three months later, no one will defend the convention as it is. Two more MPs joined the stampede to change it today: Jake Richards and Dan Tomlinson, two ambitious Labour backbenchers, have a joint article in The Times calling for "reform" of the convention. It became clear that this was not just a matter of tactical positioning in British politics when nine EU leaders, led by the prime ministers of Italy and Denmark, published an open letter on 22 May to launch an 'open-minded conversation" about the "interpretation" of the convention. They said: 'We have seen, for example, cases concerning the expulsion of criminal foreign nationals where the interpretation of the convention has resulted in the protection of the wrong people and posed too many limitations on the states' ability to decide whom to expel from their territories." A week later, Richard Hermer, the UK attorney general, delivered a lecture that attracted attention for suggesting that Kemi Badenoch's wish to "disengage" from the European court was like legal arguments made in Nazi Germany to "put aside" international law. He had to apologise for that "clumsy" analogy, which meant that hardly anyone noticed something else he said in the lecture, namely that Britain must be ready to "reform" international agreements such as the convention so that they retain "democratic legitimacy". A few days later, Alain Berset, the secretary general of the Council of Europe, the body that oversees the convention and its court, and which as every Brexit pedant knows is separate from the European Union, said: "We need adaptation. We need discussion about the rules that we want to have, and there is no taboo." In just a few weeks, the debate has moved from "how the convention is interpreted" to "rewriting the convention itself". Something is happening. It is almost as if European leaders have learned from their failure to give David Cameron reforms that would have enabled him to win the referendum and keep Britain in the EU. They have realised that they need to change the ECHR in order to save it. The transformation of the politics of the issue in the UK was confirmed last week, when Ed Davey said that he wouldn't be opposed to rewriting the convention. "If you could do it collectively, working with the court, with European colleagues, yes, one could look at that," he said. That is Ed Davey, leader of the Liberal Democrats, who fought a general election on a promise to cancel Brexit; the party that most venerates European institutions and international law. What is going on? Nigel Farage claims that he has changed the terms of the debate: that the liberal establishment is panicking because of his campaign against the ECHR. First, he forced Kemi Badenoch to harden her line, inherited from Rishi Sunak, of being prepared to repudiate the ECHR if necessary; now the government is trying to hold back the tide by reviewing the way the convention is interpreted or even amending it. This is not the whole story. I don't think Giorgia Meloni and Mette Frederiksen were prompted to publish their open letter by Reform's success in British opinion polls. They were responding to a genuine problem that has frustrated elected leaders for a long time. I remember Tony Blair being as irritated as his first-class temperament would allow at the Chahal decision of 1996 that made it hard for him to deport various criminals and terrorists. But the way the convention, especially article 8, the right to family life, has been interpreted, both by the European Court of Human Rights and by national courts, has become more of a problem in recent years. In Britain, the Telegraph has given the appearance of campaigning against human rights law by simply reporting a series of rulings by immigration tribunals. (Perhaps the most eye-catching use of the ECHR in recent months was the Albanian criminal whose deportation was halted partly because of his young son's aversion to foreign chicken nuggets.)
The National
a day ago
- Politics
- The National
UK Government urged to publish legal advice on joining war on Iran
Lord Hermer warned that UK involvement beyond defending Israel, which started the war with a wave of strikes on Friday, would be illegal under international law, The Spectator reports. LibDem leader Ed Davey has urged the UK Government to publish his advice, adding: 'The last thing we need is for the UK to be dragged into another illegal war in the Middle East by the US.' The Attorney General was said to have 'concerns about the UK playing any role in this except for defending our allies', according to a source who spoke to The Spectator. It comes as the UK awaits Donald Trump's next move as he failed to confirm whether America would join Israel in bombing Iran. Asked about reports that Trump had approved a plan to attack Iran but not yet ordered strikes, the Prime Minister said: 'Obviously all of us, UK included, are very concerned about the nuclear programme that Iran is developing, we've long been concerned about that. Also, [we] completely recognise Israel's right to self-defence, but the principle is that we need to de-escalate this. 'There's a real risk of escalation here that will impact the region, possibly beyond the region, akin to Gaza, and obviously it's already having an impact on the economy. So I've been absolutely clear we need to de-escalate this. Yes, the nuclear issue has to be dealt with, but it's better dealt with by way of negotiations than by way of conflict.' David Lammy (below) flew to the US on Thursday to meet his American counterpart Marco Rubio, with Whitehall sources telling The Guardian the UK's priorities were diplomacy and de-escalation. Starmer convened a Cobra meeting on Wednesday and is considering both whether to support US strikes on Iran and whether to approve the use of the Diego Garcia military base in the Chagos Islands for attacks. A spokesperson for the attorney general's office said: 'By longstanding convention, reflected in the ministerial code, [the question of] whether the law officers have been asked to provide legal advice and the content of any advice is not routinely disclosed. The convention provides the fullest guarantee that government business will be conducted at all times in light of thorough and candid legal advice.' Labour's Emily Thornberry, chair of the foreign affairs select committee, said going to war with Iran would not be 'justifiable'. Speaking on BBC Radio 4's World at One, she added: 'I think the only way in which we are going to solve this matter is through negotiations.'
Powys County Times
a day ago
- Climate
- Powys County Times
Warning over dangers of rivers, lakes and waterways as temperatures soar
Warnings are being issued over the risks surrounding rivers, lakes and waterways as temperatures are set to reach heatwave levels in parts of the country. Temperatures are rising this week and are forecast to peak at 33C on Saturday. London Fire Brigade (LFB) has attended more than 280 water-related incidents this year so far, an increase of about 15% compared with the same period in 2024, it said. They have included incidents such as sinking and capsized boats, individuals trapped in mud or caught by the tide, and people and animals in distress in the water. Fifteen incidents resulted in people drowning in London, the fire brigade said. It's another hot day. If you're spending time near the water please be safe. Strong currents, underwater hazards & cold water shock can be deadly We've stepped up our water safety awareness work with communities & stakeholders this #DrowningPreventionWeek — London Fire Brigade (@LondonFire) June 19, 2025 As part of a national push during Drowning Prevention Week, LFB is increasing engagement with communities to raise awareness of water safety risks. During a visit to Kingston Fire Station, Liberal Democrat Leader Sir Ed Davey met local firefighters and observed a live demonstration of the brigade's river flume tank. The tank includes a hydraulic flume with a range of features such as bridges, rocks and weirs to demonstrate how water behaves in rivers. Since its introduction at Twickenham Fire Station last year, the tank has been used across London to show schools, youth groups, communities and stakeholders how even experienced swimmers can quickly get into difficulty in open water. Pam Oparaocha, assistant commissioner for prevention and protection, said: 'We're working closely with MPs, schools and local communities to help people understand the serious water safety risks as summer approaches. 'With warm weather and school holidays on the horizon, we want people, especially young people, to enjoy our waterways safely, and that starts with education. 'Strong currents, underwater hazards and cold water shock can be deadly. It's important to know the risks and to familiarise yourself with lifesaving equipment like throwlines, which are available along many of London's waterways. There's a wealth of guidance on our website to help people stay safe this summer.' Jules Pipe, deputy mayor for the fire service, said: 'London's rivers, lakes and waterways can look very appealing when the temperatures rise, however, they can contain hidden dangers. 'The mayor and I are working to improve the capital's waterways for everyone to enjoy, and I urge everyone to heed London Fire Brigade's advice to stay safe in and around water. 'As the hot weather continues and with the summer holidays looming, this timely work with young people will help save lives and build a safer London for everyone.'
South Wales Argus
2 days ago
- Climate
- South Wales Argus
Warning over dangers of rivers, lakes and waterways as temperatures soar
Temperatures are rising this week and are forecast to peak at 33C on Saturday. London Fire Brigade (LFB) has attended more than 280 water-related incidents this year so far, an increase of about 15% compared with the same period in 2024, it said. They have included incidents such as sinking and capsized boats, individuals trapped in mud or caught by the tide, and people and animals in distress in the water. Fifteen incidents resulted in people drowning in London, the fire brigade said. As part of a national push during Drowning Prevention Week, LFB is increasing engagement with communities to raise awareness of water safety risks. During a visit to Kingston Fire Station, Liberal Democrat Leader Sir Ed Davey met local firefighters and observed a live demonstration of the brigade's river flume tank. The tank includes a hydraulic flume with a range of features such as bridges, rocks and weirs to demonstrate how water behaves in rivers. Since its introduction at Twickenham Fire Station last year, the tank has been used across London to show schools, youth groups, communities and stakeholders how even experienced swimmers can quickly get into difficulty in open water. Pam Oparaocha, assistant commissioner for prevention and protection, said: 'We're working closely with MPs, schools and local communities to help people understand the serious water safety risks as summer approaches. 'With warm weather and school holidays on the horizon, we want people, especially young people, to enjoy our waterways safely, and that starts with education. 'Strong currents, underwater hazards and cold water shock can be deadly. It's important to know the risks and to familiarise yourself with lifesaving equipment like throwlines, which are available along many of London's waterways. There's a wealth of guidance on our website to help people stay safe this summer.' Jules Pipe, deputy mayor for the fire service, said: 'London's rivers, lakes and waterways can look very appealing when the temperatures rise, however, they can contain hidden dangers. 'The mayor and I are working to improve the capital's waterways for everyone to enjoy, and I urge everyone to heed London Fire Brigade's advice to stay safe in and around water. 'As the hot weather continues and with the summer holidays looming, this timely work with young people will help save lives and build a safer London for everyone.'
Leader Live
2 days ago
- Climate
- Leader Live
Warning over dangers of rivers, lakes and waterways as temperatures soar
Temperatures are rising this week and are forecast to peak at 33C on Saturday. London Fire Brigade (LFB) has attended more than 280 water-related incidents this year so far, an increase of about 15% compared with the same period in 2024, it said. They have included incidents such as sinking and capsized boats, individuals trapped in mud or caught by the tide, and people and animals in distress in the water. Fifteen incidents resulted in people drowning in London, the fire brigade said. As part of a national push during Drowning Prevention Week, LFB is increasing engagement with communities to raise awareness of water safety risks. During a visit to Kingston Fire Station, Liberal Democrat Leader Sir Ed Davey met local firefighters and observed a live demonstration of the brigade's river flume tank. The tank includes a hydraulic flume with a range of features such as bridges, rocks and weirs to demonstrate how water behaves in rivers. Since its introduction at Twickenham Fire Station last year, the tank has been used across London to show schools, youth groups, communities and stakeholders how even experienced swimmers can quickly get into difficulty in open water. Pam Oparaocha, assistant commissioner for prevention and protection, said: 'We're working closely with MPs, schools and local communities to help people understand the serious water safety risks as summer approaches. 'With warm weather and school holidays on the horizon, we want people, especially young people, to enjoy our waterways safely, and that starts with education. 'Strong currents, underwater hazards and cold water shock can be deadly. It's important to know the risks and to familiarise yourself with lifesaving equipment like throwlines, which are available along many of London's waterways. There's a wealth of guidance on our website to help people stay safe this summer.' Jules Pipe, deputy mayor for the fire service, said: 'London's rivers, lakes and waterways can look very appealing when the temperatures rise, however, they can contain hidden dangers. 'The mayor and I are working to improve the capital's waterways for everyone to enjoy, and I urge everyone to heed London Fire Brigade's advice to stay safe in and around water. 'As the hot weather continues and with the summer holidays looming, this timely work with young people will help save lives and build a safer London for everyone.'
