Britain's Prime Minister Keir Starmer speaks during an International Men's Day reception at Downing Street in London, Wednesday Nov. 19, 2025. (Jaimi Joy/Pool Photo via AP)

Keir Starmer has been accused of a “moral retreat” after urging Europe’s leaders to weaken protections enshrined the European Convention on Human Rights.

The prime minister wants to take tougher action to clamp down on illegal migration.

He claims watering down elements of the ECHR will help mainstream governments to get on top of the issue and weaken support for parties on the populist far-right.

In a joint Guardian article with Danish leader Mette Frederiksen, Starmer said: “The best way of fighting against the forces of hate and division, is to show that mainstream, progressive politics can fix this problem.

“Listening to legitimate concerns and acting on them is what our politics is about. That’s not empty populism, it’s democracy. We are determined to show that our societies can act with compassion while upholding law and order, and fairness.”

It comes as the Tories and Reform UK have called for complete withdrawal from the ECHR.

Labour has also sought inspiration from Denmark’s tough asylum system in recent months in a........

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