Nigel Farage's bid to advance legislation withdrawing the UK from the European Convention on Human Rights was decisively rejected by MPs on Wednesday. The Reform UK leader's 10-minute rule motion was defeated by 154 votes to 96, blocking his attempt to "complete Brexit" by severing ties with the Strasbourg-based human rights court.
Farage argued that Britain remains under foreign judicial control. "I believe that Brexit cannot be complete all the while we're subject to a foreign court and frankly, a piece of legislation brought in by the Blair government upon which judges can choose their own political interpretation," he told the Commons. "We are not sovereign all the while we are part of the ECHR, the European Council and its associated court. It's as simple as that."
Fierce Opposition and Heated Exchanges
Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey launched a scathing attack on Farage's proposal, drawing parallels with authoritarian regimes. "If you want to know (Mr Farage)'s intentions for British people's basic rights and freedoms, just look at Putin's Russia or Trump's America," Davey said. "That isn't patriotic, it is deeply un-British, and he should be ashamed."
The debate grew heated as opposition MPs repeatedly heckled Farage during his speech. The Reform UK leader responded by telling the interrupting MPs to be "children be quiet," prompting one MP to shout "Putin's pet" at him. The deputy speaker had to intervene multiple times to restore order.
Historical Stakes and Protection Claims
Davey emphasized Britain's role in creating the ECHR 70 years ago, championed by Winston Churchill. "The convention protects the very people who need it most, our elderly and most vulnerable, so they may live and grow old with dignity, our children so that those facing horrific abuse have better protection," he argued. He cited specific cases where ECHR-related laws helped victims of the Hillsborough disaster, Stafford Hospital deaths, and police failures in the John Worboys case.
Farage countered that his bill would "restore the power of this Parliament" and "return British common law." He claimed the current system allows judges to overrule parliamentary decisions on border control and immigration, calling it a sovereignty issue that prevents voters from choosing their country's direction.
Note: This article was created with Artificial Intelligence (AI).
