Europe’s human rights laws should be reviewed, ex-Lord Chief Justice says, amid fury they are blocking deportations
EUROPE’s human rights laws should be reviewed, the ex-Lord Chief Justice says, amid fury they are blocking deportations.
Lord Burnett said the “time has probably come” to look at Article 8 of the European Convention on Human Rights.
Lawyers have used the right to a family and private life as means to fight removals of dangerous foreign offenders often on ludicrous grounds.
Yvette Cooper has launched a review of ECHR application in migration court cases following a slew of bizarre appeals.
An Albanian crook had his deportation halted partly as his son disliked foreign chicken nuggets.
An immigration tribunal ruled it would have been “unduly harsh” for the child to be deported to Albania with his father due to his sensitivity around food as well other “additional” needs.
Lord Burnett also raised concerns over ECHR judges’ behaviour following a controversial ruling against Switzerland for not doing enough on climate change.
He told Times Radio: “There’s a case where there is a perfectly legitimate argument to be had.
“It is about whether the Strasbourg Court has perhaps overstepped the judicial function and entered the political sphere.
“But I don’t think that one or two cases that cause concern should lead to an overreaction and a desire to throw away the whole system.”