Lib Dems defeat Farage’s bill to withdraw from ECHR and criticise Welsh Labour MPs for not voting

The Liberal Democrats have led the fight in Parliament and defeated Farage’s Ten Minute Rule Bill on withdrawing the UK from the European Convention on Human Rights, calling and winning a vote on his proposals. 

The final vote was 154 against and 96 for.

The move saw Liberal Democrat Leader Ed Davey give an impassioned speech in defence of the European Court of Human Rights, citing numerous examples of when the institution helped British citizens get justice and keep important checks and balances in place to stop state overreach.

The Labour frontbench abstained from the vote, while the Conservatives voted with Reform. 63 Labour backbenchers voted with the 64 Liberal Democrats who voted against the bill.

The Welsh Liberal Democrats have accused Welsh Labour MPs of failing to stand up to Farage’s and Reform’s authoritarian politics after 25/27 Welsh Labour MPs failed to vote against Farage's proposals.

Commenting, Welsh Liberal Democrat Westminster Spokesperson David Chadwick MP said:

“We just defeated Nigel Farage’s Bill in Parliament, which attempted to tear up Welsh people’s rights and withdraw from the ECHR.

“Farage wants to do away with the Britain Churchill built and turn it into a version of Trump's America. Today, the Liberal Democrats stopped him.

"The ECHR protects many everyday rights we take for granted.

“I am beyond disappointed that most Welsh Labour MPs didn’t bother to vote on what is such an important issue. Make no mistake where they fail to stand up to Reform and Farage, the Liberal Democrats will fight for the country of tolerance, rule of law and fairness that we believe in.”

ENDS

All the below Welsh Labour MPs abstained:

1.      Sir Mark Tami (Alyn and Deeside)

2.      Tonia Antoniazzi (Gower)

3.      Alex Barros-Curtis (Cardiff West)

4.      Torsten Bell (Swansea West)

5.      Chris Bryant (Rhondda and Ogmore)

6.      Alex Davies-Jones (Pontypridd)

7.      Stephen Doughty (Cardiff South and Penarth)

8.      Chris Elmore (Bridgend)

9.      Chris Evans (Caerphilly)

10.  Catherine Fookes (Monmouthshire)

11.  Gill German (Clwyd North)

12.  Becky Gittins (Clwyd East)

13.  Dame Nia Griffith (Llanelli)

14.  Carolyn Harris (Neath and Swansea East)

15.  Claire Hughes (Bangor Aberconwy)

16.  Ruth Jones (Newport West and Islwyn)

17.  Stephen Kinnock (Aberafan Maesteg)

18.  Anna McMorrin (Cardiff North)

19.  Jessica Morden (Newport East)

20.  Kanishka Narayan (Vale of Glamorgan)

21.  Andrew Ranger (Wrexham)

22.  Nick Smith (Blaenau Gwent and Rhymney)

23.  Jo Stevens (Cardiff East)

24.  Nick Thomas-Symonds (Torfaen)

25.  Henry Tufnell (Mid and South Pembrokeshire)