Leaving ECHR ‘not the future I want for Scotland’, says Swinney

Scotland’s First Minister has said leaving the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR) is “not the future I want for Scotland” ahead of its 75th anniversary.

The treaty was opened for signatures on November 4 1950 and formed the European Court of Human Rights.

But in recent years some political parties, namely Reform UK and more recently the Conservatives, have advocated for the UK to leave the convention to prevent it from stymieing efforts to deport people.

On Sunday, John Swinney reaffirmed his support for the convention, though the decision to withdraw would be for the UK Government to take.

“Signed in the aftermath of World War II, with the aim of preventing the atrocities of war happening again in Europe, the ECHR has stood as a pillar to ensure human rights are upheld for the past 75 years,” he said.

“In the face of ongoing political attacks against it from some quarters, I want to be clear that I wholeheartedly support the ECHR and membership of the Council of Europe and the vital role it plays to protect human rights.

“If the UK ever left the ECHR, people in Scotland would lose the ability to challenge violations in the European Court, and the UK would be sending an appalling message on the international stage.

“That is not the future that I want for Scotland, and we must stand firm in championing human rights.”

The First Minister added that some protections enshrined in the convention had come under attack.

“The ECHR has been critical in securing justice for ordinary people in their everyday lives – including protecting freedom of religion in the workplace and supporting LGBT rights,” he said.

“With some increasingly extreme political voices advocating against these rights, I believe it is vital that those of us who believe in human rights and equality redouble our efforts to stand behind them.”