There would be a serious downside to withdrawing from the European Convention on Human Rights, argues former diplomat George Fergusson

The Conservatives’ formal support for withdrawal from the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR) leaves both our right of centre parties committed to this. Given the usual pendulum effect of politics, the prospect that it might happen is growing.

This is depressing. Joining Belarus and Russia in our positioning on human rights doesn’t sound good. Conservative leaders have rejected this and other concerns.

Russell Findlay, Scottish Tory leader, has said that it is not a matter for devolved governments: immigration, driving the proposed change, is a UK, not devolved, matter. And that it wouldn’t affect the Belfast/Good Friday Agreement.

Chris Philp, Shadow Home Secretary has gone further, saying the Good Friday Agreement doesn’t refer to the ECHR: there is just a reference in an annex called the Multi-Party Agreement.

Kemi Badenoch, the UK Conservative leader, has said that the Belarus and Russia parallel is irrelevant: the US and Canada have human rights and aren’t in the ECHR.

And many Conservative spokespersons have........

© Herald Scotland