UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer has called on European leaders to urgently reform the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR). Ahead of a crucial Europe summit on Wednesday, he urged members to modernize human rights laws to stop asylum seekers from using these rights to avoid deportation. Starmer warned that updating the convention is necessary to control borders and fight the rise of populist right-wing forces across Europe. “The best way of fighting against the forces of hate and division, is to show that mainstream, progressive politics can fix this problem,” Starmer wrote alongside Danish leader Mette Frederiksen. They stressed that Europe must act together to control migration and protect democracy. However, Starmer’s call faced backlash from human rights groups, Labour peers, and some MPs. They argued that weakening protections could harm vulnerable people and fuel anti-refugee sentiment. Famous personalities like Michael Palin, Stephen Fry, and Joanna Lumley urged the prime minister to protect human rights and stand up for torture victims. The UK government plans to clarify how Article 8 (right to family life) and possibly Article 3 (ban on torture and degrading treatment) are interpreted in immigration cases. Justice Secretary David Lammy will push for these changes at the Strasbourg summit. The government insists it will remain committed to the ECHR, rejecting calls to leave the convention. Recent UK asylum reforms aim to tighten rules, including forcing refugees to return home if safe and requiring illegal arrivals to wait 20 years for permanent settlement. These measures come amid pressure from groups like Nigel Farage’s Reform UK, which highlight failures to stop illegal Channel crossings. Experts warn that restricting human rights laws risks harming refugees and may encourage other countries to do the same. Yet, the UK and allies argue that balanced reforms are needed to maintain public trust in human rights and secure borders effectively. The summit will gather ministers from 45 nations to discuss these reforms. Nine countries, including Italy and Denmark, already support limiting the ECHR’s scope on asylum rights.