In a speech that has sent shockwaves through Westminster, Business and Trade Secretary Kemi Badenoch launched a blistering attack on the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR), accusing certain judges of deliberately 'weaponising' it to work against the United Kingdom's national interest.
The controversial remarks were delivered at an unexpected venue: an Amnesty International event on Wednesday. Badenoch used the platform to argue that the international treaty, established post-World War II to protect fundamental freedoms, is being manipulated in ways its founders never intended.
'The ECHR was written 70 years ago with the best of intentions,' she stated. 'But it is now being weaponised by activist lawyers and judges... to work against our national interest.' This bold assertion places her at the forefront of the growing Tory faction pushing for a radical rethink of the UK's relationship with international human rights frameworks.
But the Cabinet minister's criticism wasn't reserved for the legal world alone. In a surprising broadside, she also turned her fire on Nigel Farage's Reform UK party. She branded the group as unserious and accused them of offering little more than superficial social media content instead of credible policy.
'We have to make sure we are not distracted by people who are just doing clickbait on social media, who are not actually interested in public service,' Badenoch warned, in a clear reference to the rival party on the right.
This dual-pronged attack is being seen as a strategic move to solidify her position as a standard-bearer for the Conservative right. By challenging both the legal establishment and a key political competitor, she appeals to voters frustrated with the status quo on immigration and sovereignty.
The speech has drawn immediate and fierce criticism from human rights advocates and political opponents. They argue that her comments undermine the very foundations of the international rules-based order and risk diminishing the UK's global standing as a defender of human rights.
As the debate over the UK's future relationship with the ECHR intensifies, Badenoch's incendiary comments are certain to fuel a heated national conversation about law, sovereignty, and the future of British democracy.
