Keir Starmer Calls for Rethink on International Law to Speed Up Deportations
UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has signalled his intention to push for changes in how international law is interpreted by British courts, in a bid to make it easier to deport unsuccessful asylum seekers and foreign criminals.
In an interview with the BBC, Starmer made clear he does not want to “tear down” existing human rights protections, but argued that mass migration and shifting global circumstances demand a modern approach. He specifically raised concerns about Article 3 of the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR), which protects individuals from torture and degrading treatment.
Rethinking Human Rights Interpretation
Starmer pointed to cases where deportations were blocked because courts ruled that conditions in the destination country — such as prison standards or healthcare systems — fell below UK levels. He described this as problematic, stressing the distinction between sending someone to “summary execution” and returning them to a country with different but lawful standards.
“We need to look again at the interpretation of some of these provisions, not tear them down,” he said, emphasising that people fleeing genuine persecution should continue to receive asylum.
The prime minister argued that international laws, including Articles 3 and 8 of the ECHR, as well as the UN Refugee Convention, the Convention Against Torture, and the Convention on the Rights of the Child, are often interpreted in ways that prevent deportations, even in rare or marginal cases.
Human Rights Lawyers Push Back
Starmer’s comments sparked debate. Human rights campaigner and lawyer Shami Chakrabarti responded by saying that claims of widespread abuse of international law are exaggerated. She insisted that cases where deportation is blocked on the basis of degrading treatment are “very, very rare.”
“To say that it’s inhuman and degrading simply because conditions are worse abroad than in the UK has never been the legal test applied by British courts,” she said.
A Growing Migration Challenge
The remarks come against the backdrop of a sharp rise in irregular migration and asylum claims in recent years. Thousands have attempted dangerous small-boat crossings of the English Channel, a politically explosive issue that has dominated headlines and election debates.
Starmer said Britain, like many other nations, is facing “mass migration in a way we have not seen in previous years.” He argued that legal frameworks created decades ago may need adjusting to reflect today’s realities.
The comments followed new proposals from the Home Office to tighten rules around indefinite leave to remain and restrict legal loopholes that allow migrants to delay or block deportation.
Political Context: Reform UK and Brexit Fallout
Starmer’s intervention also came during the Labour Party conference, where immigration dominated the agenda. The prime minister took aim at Nigel Farage’s Reform UK, describing it as peddling the “politics of grievance.” He pledged to resist racist rhetoric while positioning Labour as a party of “tolerant, decent patriotism.”
He criticised Brexit’s impact on asylum policy, branding the small boats crisis as the “Farage boats” problem. Under EU membership, the UK could return asylum seekers to the first safe European country they entered under the Dublin Regulation. That agreement ended in January 2021 after Brexit, leaving Britain with fewer legal avenues to return migrants.
Internal Party Challenges
Starmer has also faced internal pressure, with Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham openly discussing calls for him to return to Westminster as a potential challenger. But Starmer brushed off questions about his leadership, saying he has always been underestimated but has consistently “pushed through barriers.”
“I didn’t come into politics as a popularity contest,” he told the BBC. “I came in with one focus: changing my country for the better. I’m proud to be prime minister, getting on with that work.”
Wider Domestic Policy Priorities
Beyond migration, Starmer used the interviews to set out broader domestic goals. He highlighted concerns about youth unemployment linked to mental health, arguing that while benefits should remain for those in need, there must be a strategy to help young people re-enter the workforce.
“If you are on benefits in your 20s, it will be extremely difficult to get off them later in life,” he said.
On the cost of living, Starmer promised to bring down household bills, acknowledging that millions of families face higher energy prices following Ofgem’s new price cap. He also pointed to a recent UK-EU agreement on sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) rules, which he claimed would help cut food costs by easing cross-border trade.
Education and Apprenticeships
Education reform also featured prominently in Starmer’s plans. He said too many young people are being pushed into university when high-quality apprenticeships may be a better path. He pledged to make apprenticeships “a gold standard” equal in respect to university degrees.
Labour now aims for two-thirds of young people to pursue either higher education or technical qualifications after school. This modernises Tony Blair’s 1999 target of 50% university attendance, which Starmer said is “no longer right for our times.”
A Balancing Act on Human Rights and Migration
Starmer’s remarks highlight a delicate balancing act. On one side, he seeks to demonstrate toughness on immigration and deportations, especially against foreign criminals and those abusing the asylum system. On the other, he insists Britain will continue to offer protection to refugees genuinely fleeing war, persecution, and torture.
By calling for a reinterpretation rather than dismantling of international conventions, Starmer hopes to reassure both moderate voters who want fairness and those demanding stronger border enforcement.
Whether his government can push through meaningful legal changes without sparking a backlash from human rights groups — or from within his own party — remains to be seen. But one thing is clear: migration and human rights law are set to remain at the centre of UK politics in the months ahead.