Starmer pushes for review of human rights laws to combat immigration and the far right
Prime Minister Keir Starmer has called on European leaders to re-examine how the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR) is being interpreted to tackle illegal migration and prevent voters from turning to the far right.
Writing in the Guardian, alongside Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen, the duo said that the issue of irregular migration was at the heart of this issue.
“Communities must feel supported rather than strained. Asylum for people genuinely fleeing persecution will always remain the mark of decent, compassionate countries. But controlling who comes here is an essential task of government and is what the public rightly demands.
“That’s why we are both taking practical action to fix the asylum system. Denmark has led the way here, with tough but fair reforms which have delivered results.”
Last year, the number of people being granted asylum in Denmark was the lowest in 40 years, excluding the Covid year of 2020.
Starmer noted that the UK has taken similar steps, but that the current asylum framework was created for another era.
“In a world with mass mobility, yesterday’s answers do not work. We will always protect those fleeing war and terror – but the world has changed and asylum systems must change with it.
“Today, millions are on the move not only because their lives are in danger, but because they want a better future. If we fail to take account of this, we would fail the needs of genuine refugees and the communities that for too long have been asked to absorb rapid change.”
The duo noted that the best way of fighting against the forces of hate and division is to show that mainstream, progressive politics can fix this problem.
“Listening to legitimate concerns and acting on them is what our politics is about. That’s not empty populism, it’s democracy. We are determined to show that our societies can act with compassion while upholding law and order, and fairness.
“We are making this case across Europe, and momentum for change is building. More countries are now pursuing similar approaches – ensuring that protection is available for those refugees who need it, while making it connected to clear expectations of integration and contribution.
“That’s what people want their governments to do – maintain control over who comes and who stays, and do it on our terms. We get it. And if you commit serious crimes, you lose the right to stay. That principle is not extreme – it is common sense.”
