Human rights rollback: Reform framing 'poisoning the public debate' and scapegoating immigrants

Amnesty International has warned that proposals to leave the European Convention on Human Rights, expand mass deportations and weaken legal safeguards risk undermining democratic accountability and fuelling division, following a speech by Reform UK’s Home Affairs spokesperson outlining plans to overhaul immigration, policing and national security frameworks.

Kerry Moscogiuri, Amnesty International UK’s Chief Executive, said:

“Anyone seeking power without restraint, including human rights protections, should set alarm bells ringing. Human rights exist to stop governments abusing power and to make sure no one is above the law. Proposals to sideline courts and weaken legal protections should concern anyone who cares about freedoms and accountability in the UK.

“Real security means protecting rights, upholding justice and bringing communities together, not scapegoating migrants or minorities to chase headlines.

“From Hillsborough to the infected blood scandal, it has been independent courts and strong legal protections that exposed injustice when politics failed. Weakening those safeguards risks removing one of the few checks people have when the goverment gets things wrong.

“Language that frames migration as an ‘invasion’ poisons the public debate and emboldens ideas many believed we had left behind generations ago. Appealing to racism or aggressive nationalism as a shortcut to power is reckless and dangerous.

“The UK does not need or want a British version of ICE. Proposals to mirror the United States through mass detention and rapid deportations risk unleashing a system built on fear, aggressive raids and discrimination, where enforcement operates with sweeping powers and too little accountability. That is not security. It is a blueprint for division, harm and lasting damage to our freedoms.

“Rights take decades to win and moments to lose. Plans to expand mass detention, restrict legal oversight and withdraw from international human rights frameworks would drag the UK towards a dystopian, authoritarian future that most people simply do not want.”

Public support for human rights protections

Polling commissioned by Amnesty  indicates strong public backing for human rights protections and widespread scepticism about politicians deciding which rights people should keep.

More than eight in ten UK adults say human rights protections are as important or more important today than when the European Convention on Human Rights was created after the Second World War. Nearly eight in ten people agree that rights should be permanent and not something a government can reduce, while 87 percent say rights and laws must apply equally to everyone.

The polling also found that 85 percent of respondents believe the UK needs a legal safety net to hold governments accountable in cases such as Grenfell and the infected blood scandal. Support for remaining in the European Convention on Human Rights is almost twice as high as support for leaving, with 48 percent backing continued membership compared with 26 percent who support withdrawal.

ENDS

NOTES TO EDITORS

Polling conducted by Savanta for Amnesty International UK. 2,099 UK adults aged 18 and over were surveyed online between 24 and 25 October 2025. Data weighted to be nationally representative.

Events most cited by the public as showing the importance of strong legal protections include Grenfell Tower, the Hillsborough disaster and cover up, the infected blood scandal, the COVID inquiry, the murder of Sarah Everard and the Windrush scandal.

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