Is Boris set to pull UK out of Europe’s human rights court?

BORIS Johnson yesterday suggested all options are under review when asked whether Britain should withdraw from the European Convention on Human Rights.

The UK is still party to the European Court of Human Rights – despite Brexit.

This is because the court has nothing to do with the European Union. Instead it is part of the completely separate Council of Europe, founded after the Second World War.

But asked if the UK should withdraw from the convention, the Prime Minister said: ‘Will it be necessary to change some rules to help us as we go along? It very well may be.’

The European Convention on Human Rights, which the court interprets, was signed by most countries on the continent in 1950. The UK was a founding member. Its aim is to uphold human rights, democracy and the rule of law on the continent. The Strasbourg-based court hears cases alleging that a member has breached one or more of the human rights enumerated in the convention.

It has 4 judges, one from each of the council’s member states. The court first heard cases in 1959 – and the UK has always been subject to its rulings. It is distinct from the EU, which Britain joined in 19 3 when it was called the European Economic Community.

Conservative politicians have periodically toyed with the idea of leaving the institution.

The Human Rights Act requires UK judges to ‘take into account’ decisions of the court but it has been suggested the Act could be replaced with a bill of rights, allowing more scope for interpreting Strasbourg rulings.