Nigel Farage claimed the European convention on human rights had been “used” by the government “against the people of Epping”, though the judge ruled that arguments about a “hierarchy of rights” were “unattractive”.

 

40m ago

15.50 BST

https://www.theguardian.com/politics/live/2025/aug/29/latest-live-uk-politics-news-updates-asylum-hotels-labour-conservatives-reform?filterKeyEvents=false&page=with%3Ablock-68b1b95e8f08e752a46e8025#block-68b1b95e8f08e752a46e8025

 

Nigel Farage claimed the European convention on human rights had been “used” by the government “against the people of Epping”, though the judge ruled that arguments about a “hierarchy of rights” were “unattractive”.

 

The Reform UK leader said:

 

The government has used ECHR against the people of Epping. Illegal migrants have more rights than the British people under Starmer.

 

He did not specify which part of the case he was referring to.

 

The Home Office’s lawyers had argued “the relevant public interests in play are not equal”, referring to Epping’s interest in enforcing planning control on the one hand, and the home secretary’s duty which comes from UK obligations under the ECHR on the other.

 

However, Friday’s ruling says:

 

Any argument in this particular context about a hierarchy of rights is in our view unattractive.

 

For more on this topic, read BBC News home and legal correspondent Dominic Casciani’s take on the ruling (see 3.29pm BST).