Thank you for contacting me about the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR).
Tackling illegal immigration and the abuses of the UK’s system has always been a top priority for the Prime Minister and he’s spoken at length about the need for fundamental reform to put an end to the exploitation of our laws, restore fairness to the system, and prevent further loss of life in the Channel.
To this end, the Government's Illegal Migration Act 2023 restores fairness, fixes our asylum system and stops the boats. I am assured that the Government will always comply with its international obligations and is confident that this new legislation will be compliant with the ECHR.
This builds on the progress the Prime Minister has already driven to date, including the UK’s new deal with France, which secured UK officers embedded with French counterparts for the first time, increased cooperation with our international partners through the Calais Group, a new agreement with Albania, and measures to speed up returns, step up enforcement and clear the backlog.
Whilst the Government believes in a fair and just immigration system, the UK will always be a compassionate country. This is evident in the way we have opened our hearts and our homes to those fleeing war and persecution, including from Hong Kong and Ukraine.
The Government will continue to work with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees to identify those who are most in need so that the UK remains a safe haven for the most vulnerable. The UK will also introduce an annual quota on numbers, set by Parliament in consultation with local authorities to determine our capacity, and amendable in the face of humanitarian emergencies.
More broadly, the UK has a proud record of providing protection for people who need it in accordance with our international obligations under the ECHR and I am confident that the Government will continue to champion human rights at home and abroad.