Nigel Farage Defeated in Commons on ECHR Withdrawal Bill

Nigel Farage, leader of Reform UK, proposed a 10-minute rule bill for the UK to leave the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR), arguing that the country is not truly sovereign while bound by the ECHR and that Brexit cannot be completed under its jurisdiction. The bill was defeated by 154 votes to 96, with significant opposition from Liberal Democrats and other parties, while some Scottish Conservative MPs supported the motion, drawing criticism for aligning with Farage's right-wing stance. Farage was heckled during his Commons speech, with MPs accusing him of aligning with authoritarian regimes like Russia, the only country to have withdrawn from the ECHR, and highlighting the protections the convention offers UK citizens. Liberal Democrat leader Ed Davey criticized Farage, saying his proposal would please dictators and betray UK values, while Farage dismissed hecklers and claimed the ECHR allows judges to impose political interpretations. The debate underscored divisions within UK politics regarding sovereignty, human rights, and the legacy of Brexit, with Reform UK pushing for a departure from the ECHR and opponents emphasizing its role in safeguarding freedoms.