European Court of Human Rights

Opened the debate

MP John Howell, leading from his role as UK delegation to the Council of Europe and vice-president of the Assembly, raised concerns about reforms needed at the European Court of Human Rights. He emphasised the importance of reforming the election process for judges to ensure independence and integrity, highlighting issues such as political activism among candidates and conflicts of interest with NGOs. Howell also pointed out that the UK, due to its low case count, has a unique opportunity to implement change beneficially across Europe. His speech included calls for transparency in judge selection processes, stricter adherence to declarations of interests, and improved withdrawal procedures for judges.

Government Response

Minister James Cartlidge acknowledged the importance of the debate and commended John Howell's work in Strasbourg. He emphasised the UK’s commitment to remaining a part of the ECHR, while highlighting efforts made through declarations like Interlaken and Brighton aimed at reducing the Court’s case backlog and enhancing efficiency. Cartlidge addressed concerns about judge selection processes, agreeing that improving these is critical for ensuring judges are independent from political influence. He welcomed the Parliamentary Assembly's exploration into best practices to improve candidate scrutiny. Additionally, he noted the Government's request for a review of the effectiveness of the current system for selecting and electing judges at the Strasbourg Court, aiming to strengthen safeguards preserving their independence and impartiality.