Tom Tugendhat, the United Kingdom’s shadow foreign secretary, has indicated that the country may need to leave the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR) if meaningful reforms are not achieved, marking a shift from his previous position advocating for its reform. Tugendhat, appointed last month, spoke during a recent visit to Washington, D.C., where he attended the London Defence Conference.
The debate over the UK’s membership in the ECHR has gained renewed attention within the Conservative Party under the leadership of Kemi Badenoch, who has introduced a policy barring candidates supportive of continued membership from standing for the party. Critics argue that the treaty has been misused by illegal migrants to contest deportations on human rights grounds. Tugendhat acknowledged these concerns but stressed his preference to remain in the treaty if reforms were possible.
“I’d like to change it but, actually, one of the things I’ve discovered over the last few years... there isn’t the appetite to make a change,” Tugendhat said, citing discussions with leaders from Greece, Germany, the Netherlands, France, and Italy. He further emphasized that the UK’s legal system grants the ECHR stronger influence than in other European countries due to the absence of a constitutional ceiling, unlike those nations where constitutions limit the treaty’s authority.
The Conservative Party has signaled plans to make withdrawal from the ECHR a key issue in the next general election, alongside proposals to deport foreign criminals more aggressively. However, such a move raises concerns about potential legal conflicts with the Good Friday Agreement, which requires the full incorporation of the ECHR into Northern Ireland’s judicial framework. Tugendhat acknowledged that this issue had not been extensively discussed with U.S. lawmakers and remains a work in progress.
Tugendhat also commented on broader foreign policy issues during his U.S. visit. He addressed tensions arising from recent exchanges between UK politicians and former U.S. President Donald Trump, including Trump’s criticism of the Chagos Islands agreement. The shadow foreign secretary described the UK government as out of step with global realities, lamenting a return to rhetoric reminiscent of earlier decades despite the changing geopolitical landscape.
On relations with the U.S., Tugendhat noted the diminished British influence on emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence, describing the country as lacking control over key AI models and therefore unable to exert authority over American and Chinese developments. He dismissed suggestions that Britain could act as a regulatory force in this domain.
Regarding Russia and international diplomacy, Tugendhat criticized the idea of Russia’s continued inclusion in the G20 summit, warning this could undermine the group’s effectiveness. He condemned Russian President Vladimir Putin as “a mass murdering, corrupt despot” responsible for significant human rights abuses.
Tugendhat’s engagement with American officials is longstanding, dating back to his advisory role with General Sir David Richards in 2009. He maintains relationships with a wide range of U.S. political and security figures, including former national security adviser H.R. McMaster and former UN Ambassador Mike Waltz. Reflecting on his political journey, Tugendhat recounted encouragement from former Secretary of State Henry Kissinger following his unsuccessful 2022 Conservative leadership bid.
As the Conservative Party positions itself on issues of sovereignty, migration, and defense ahead of the next election, Tugendhat’s evolving stance on the ECHR and his comments on international relations illustrate the challenges facing British foreign policy in a demanding global environment.