Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Human Rights Laws

Tuesday 11 November 2025 · 3 questions

Summarised by AI from the official record, so it can contain mistakes.

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Answered 1 Partly answered 2 Not answered 0

Key points

  • Foreign criminals are claiming Article 8 of the ECHR to prevent deportation, leading to domestic legislation considerations.
  • The UK's legal services contribute 47 billion annually to the economy, highlighting the sector's importance.
  • The Justice Secretary's department is set to pay compensation to Fuad Awale due to alleged infringements of his ECHR rights.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Bob Blackman Con Harrow East
Immigration Justice & Courts Standards & Ethics
Context

The public are frustrated that foreign criminals and illegal immigrants are not deported due to human rights laws. The Home Secretary is considering changing these laws.

Question

Foreign criminals and people who come here illegally are not being deported because of human rights laws, frustrating the public. I understand the Lord Chancellor’s predecessor, now the Home Secretary, is considering changing those laws. Could the Lord Chancellor accept my right hon. Friend's Bill to put it into law so we can deport people who should not be here?

Answer from The Lord Chancellor and Secretary of State for Justice (Mr David Lammy)

People are claiming article 8 in particular to thwart removal, which is why we need domestic legislation. I remind the hon. Gentleman that this Government are deporting more foreign criminals than ever before—over 5,000 just in our first year in office.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Did not accept or reject the bill but stated they were acting to address the issue domestically.

Was this summary accurate? Tell us

How accurate was this summary? (1 = poor, 5 = spot on)

Get updates like this by email
Q2 Luke Akehurst Lab North Durham
Taxation Democracy & Elections Foreign Affairs
Context

The UK's legal services, rule of law and courts are respected globally. There is a concern that ripping up international agreements could impact this reputation.

Question

Because of our proud history and commitment to the rule of law, the UK is a global leader in legal services, with our courts garnering respect across the world. What does the Lord Chancellor think would be the impact on our reputation should we begin ripping up our international agreements and commitments to the very rule of law that we as a nation helped shape?

Answer from The Lord Chancellor and Secretary of State for Justice (Mr David Lammy)

Legal services, rule of law and the importance of this jurisdiction bring £47 billion a year into our economy. It is right to seek common cause with countries like Denmark and Italy, but in a steady, progressive way, recognising the importance of the ECHR.

Answered
Was this summary accurate? Tell us

How accurate was this summary? (1 = poor, 5 = spot on)

Get updates like this by email
Q3 Robert Jenrick Reform Newark
Justice & Courts Standards & Ethics
Context

The Justice Secretary's Department is set to pay compensation to Fuad Awale, an extremist murderer and hostage-taker, because his ECHR rights were allegedly infringed. The questioner demands no taxpayer money goes towards this.

Question

Fuad Awale is an extremist double murderer who later took a prison officer hostage and demanded the release of radical cleric Abu Qatada. He is the definition of evil. Yet the Justice Secretary’s Department is now set to pay him compensation as his ECHR rights have apparently been infringed because he could not associate with monsters like those who killed Lee Rigby. Will the Justice Secretary ensure no taxpayers’ money goes to this man? If he will not, and puts our membership of the ECHR above British people's interests, will he personally fund any compensation?

Answer from The Lord Chancellor and Secretary of State for Justice (Mr David Lammy)

Consequences of judgments have been an issue for successive Governments. We are committed to the ECHR, offering asylum to those genuinely fleeing torture and execution. However, we seek to work domestically and with European colleagues on issues like article 8.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Did not commit to stopping taxpayer funds but stated commitment to ECHR while acknowledging domestic issues needing address.

Was this summary accurate? Tell us

How accurate was this summary? (1 = poor, 5 = spot on)

Get updates like this by email