Tories to take UK out of ECHR if it wins election, Badenoch says

The Conservative Party has announced its intention to withdraw from the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR) if it wins the next general election.

The declaration was made ahead of the party’s upcoming conference in Manchester.

The Tories said so-called “lawfare”, including lawyers using the ECHR to stop deportation attempts, has “frustrated the country’s efforts to secure its borders and deport those with no right to be here”.

It follows a review conducted by shadow attorney general Baron Wolfson of Tredegar, which found that the ECHR has limited the government’s ability to address immigration concerns, as well as policies across a number of other sectors.

The report, which totals nearly 200 pages, also found that membership of the ECHR could lead to restrictions on changes to climate change policy, would allow army veterans to be taken to court for actions while in the forces, and impact whether a government could prioritise British citizens for social housing and public services.

“We believe that charity begins at home and those who have paid in should come first,” the party said.

The review also found legal challenges using the ECHR could provide “debilitating” legal challenges against potential government policy.

However, Lord Wolfson, who was commissioned to carry out the review by Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch in June, warned: “Such a decision will not be a panacea to all the issues that have arisen in recent years”.

Labour said the announcement showed Mrs Badenoch was too weak to stand up to her own party.

She is expected to announce the move in a speech to the party conference on its first day on Sunday.

Mrs Badenoch said: “It is time for Britain to leave the ECHR. I have not come to this decision lightly, but it is clear that it is necessary to protect our borders, our veterans, and our citizens.

“I have always been clear that we should leave the ECHR, if necessary, but unlike other parties, we have done the serious work to develop a plan to do so – backed by legal advice from a distinguished King’s Counsel.

“Our country, and our Parliament, must be sovereign. This step will ensure that the next Conservative government will enact the policies the British people rightly expect: controlling our borders and strengthening our economy.”

The issue had been at the heart of the Conservative Party leadership election, which had provided the backdrop to the party’s annual event last year.

Mrs Badenoch’s leadership challenger, Robert Jenrick, had put withdrawing from the ECHR at the heart of his unsuccessful campaign.

Meanwhile, the now-Tory leader had said the move would not be a “silver bullet” in tackling immigration.

The only other country to leave the ECHR is Russia, which was expelled in 2022 after its invasion of Ukraine.

Sir Keir Starmer has said this week that the government is considering how Article 3 and Article 8 are interpreted.

Article 3 of the ECHR, on protection from torture and inhumane and degrading treatment, and Article 8, on the right to private and family life, have been used to halt deportation attempts.

A Labour Party spokesperson said: “Kemi Badenoch has adopted a policy she argued against in her own leadership campaign because she is too weak to stand up to her own party in the face of Reform.

“Badenoch now thinks she is both incapable of negotiating changes to the ECHR with our international partners, and a sufficiently accomplished diplomatic operator to renegotiate the Good Friday Agreement, despite not even knowing some of the most basic facts about Northern Irish politics as recently as yesterday.

“This is a decision that has been forced on her and not thought through.

“While the Tories and Reform fight amongst themselves, this Labour government is cracking down on people-smuggling gangs, deporting foreign criminals and bringing forward workable and decisive solutions to bring order to Britain’s borders.”

Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey said the move would do “nothing” to address issues with border control in the UK.

Sir Ed said: “Kemi Badenoch has chosen to back Nigel Farage and join Vladimir Putin by leaving the European Convention on Human Rights – a proud British creation championed by Churchill that protects everyone’s rights and freedoms.”

A Reform UK spokesman said: “The Conservatives had 14 years in government to leave the ECHR. Since then, it’s taken them 14 months to even decide what their policy is.

“Nobody trusts a single word they say anymore. The Conservative Party is finished.”

In his full letter to Mrs Badenoch setting out the report, Lord Wolfson said: “My overall view and advice is that should you wish to take the decision that it be Conservative Party policy that the UK should withdraw from the ECHR, such a policy would be perfectly possible both legally and practically.

“In fact, it is clear from my detailed analysis that under each of the areas which you asked me to consider, the UK’s ability to achieve the policy goals and objectives you set out will be made substantially easier by our withdrawal from the ECHR.”

He added that he did not believe the Good Friday Agreement, the UK-EU trade agreement, and the Windsor Framework were barriers to leaving the ECHR.

However, he continued: “They do present political and other issues, which I have explained in my advice.”

It comes as Mrs Badenoch told PA Media she is “staying the course” to fix the Conservative Party, which she cast as the only “credible alternative” to Labour.

The Tory leader said she will use her party’s conference to show voters “that we’re the only party that can deliver a stronger economy and stronger borders”.

She acknowledged the Tories were having a “tough time” after last year’s landslide general election defeat, dismal poll ratings and a string of defections to Reform UK.

But she struck a defiant tone, portraying herself as the right leader to revive what she called the “distressed asset” of a party.

Asked whether the comparison might dampen morale among her MPs ahead of the annual gathering, she said: “Not at all.

“I use a corporate analogy. When you have a distressed asset, you need a long-term strategy, not a short-term one, to fix it.”

On Friday, the shadow chancellor Mel Stride told the Financial Times the party would put “fiscal responsibility” at the centre of its pitch to voters.

Mr Stride warned about the state of the economy under Labour and said the bond markets could turn on Sir Keir and Rachel Reeves’s policies, meaning increases for interest rates and mortgages.

However, he said he does not share Mrs Badenoch’s view that Britain could be heading for a 1970s-style IMF bailout.

“I think that’s very unlikely,” he said. “That’s not to say we couldn’t be heading for some kind of bond crisis with runaway yields.”

Storm Amy latest: Weather warnings cover UK ahead of 100mph winds

Storm Amy is set to batter the UK over the weekend as the Met Office issues fresh amber and yellow weather warnings for every part of the country.

Gusts of up to 100mph have been forecast, with the weather authority warning of “very strong winds and heavy rain” in northern and western areas.

It is the first named storm of the 2025/2026 season, with severe weather expected to last until Sunday morning.

New yellow and amber weather warnings were issued on Friday morning. They show that rain and wind will span most of the UK on Friday, before covering every region on Saturday as Wales and the Midlands, east and south of England are all hit with strong winds.

An amber warning has also been put in place for parts of Scotland on Friday, moving over the north of the country on Saturday, bringing the risk of danger to life.

Met Office chief forecaster Neil Armstrong said: “Storm Amy will be an impactful autumn storm for many in Scotland and Northern Ireland, though impacts will also spread to northwest England and Wales, as well as a more widespread windy period for the rest of the UK.

Taylor Swift’s The Life of a Showgirl out to mixed reviews ahead of Graham Norton Show

Taylor Swift has officially released her 12th studio album, The Life of a Showgirl, now streaming worldwide.

The 35-year-old pop star’s latest record, produced with longtime collaborators Max Martin and Shellback, dropped at midnight ET (5am UK time) on Friday, 3 October, and is already expected to dominate global charts, as fans scramble to unpack the meaning behind her lyrics.

Swift’s previous album, The Tortured Poets Department (2024), broke industry records within hours, and early signs suggest this release could follow suit.

Read The Independent’s review of The Life of a Showgirl.

This new record comes after Swift announced her engagement to Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce, and after she bought back the rights to master recordings of her first six albums.

Swift has also made a number of rare TV and radio appearances to promote the record, including The Graham Norton Show on the BBC and interviews on Capital and Heart’s breakfast radio shows.

Friday evening also marks the launch of The Official Release Party of a Showgirl in cinemas, which will feature the world premiere of the music video for the single “The Fate of Ophelia”, along with behind-the-scenes footage and lyric videos.

Follow live updates below:

Commuters face major disruption at London Waterloo after emergency incident

Commuters are facing major disruptions on services from London Waterloo station following an “emergency incident”.

South Western Railway said the disruption is due to emergency services dealing with an incident between Woking and Wimbledon in the South East, causing all lines to be blocked.

Bakerloo line trains are also not stopping at Waterloo station to prevent overcrowding on the platforms, according to Transport for London (TfL).

The emergency incident means that passengers are being prevented from entering the station building, as major queues build up.

Network Rail Wessex explained that the electricity that powers the trains had to be turned off following the incident.

“Due to emergency services dealing with this incident, we have had to turn off the electricity that powers the trains. This means that no trains can run through the area,” it said in a post on X.

This meant that train services could not operate through this section of the network until the power was safely restored.

Although the SWR has announced the lines are now open, they estimate there will be disruption to the services until the end of the day.

National Rail said: “The emergency services have completed their work between Wimbledon and Effingham Junction/Hampton Court/Woking.

“This has allowed all lines between these stations to reopen. Trains running between these stations may continue to be cancelled, severely delayed by up to 100 minutes or revised.”

Stations between Wimbledon, Woking, Effingham Junction and Hampton Court are all affected by the delays and passengers are being prevented from accessing Waterloo Station.

Tickets on affected SWR services are being accepted on alternative bus routes and Great Western Railway services between Basingstoke and Reading in both directions.

They will also be accepted on Great Western Railway services between London Paddington and Exeter St Davids in both directions.

TfL is also accepting tickets on London Buses. In a post on X TfL said: “Jubilee Line and Northern Line trains continue to stop as normal.”

Sarah Mullally becomes first ever female Archbishop of Canterbury

Dame Sarah Mullally has told of her joy in making history as the first woman to be named Archbishop of Canterbury while paying tribute to those who paved the way for the moment.

The former chief nursing officer for England also acknowledged the challenges ahead as the first female to be top bishop in the Church of England due to the “legacy of deep harm and mistrust” she said existed following past safeguarding failures.

Dame Sarah is now Archbishop of Canterbury-designate, ahead of a legal ceremony that will confirm her position as the Church’s top bishop.

She is the 106th Archbishop of Canterbury, with the role having been vacant for almost a year after Justin Welby announced his resignation from office, following failures in handling an abuse scandal.

In address at Canterbury Cathedral, Dame Sarah said: “I’m told that there will be much talk today about this being a historic moment and a joyous one for many.

“I share with you in that joy, not for myself, but for a Church that listens to the calling of God and says, ‘Yes, we will follow you’.

“I intend to be a shepherd who enables everyone’s ministry and vocation to flourish, whatever the tradition.

“Today, I give thanks for all the men and women, lay and ordained deacons, priests and bishops who have paved the way for this moment, and to all the women that have gone before me – thank you for your support and inspiration.”

Sir Keir Starmer also welcomed the appointment, saying: “The Church of England is of profound importance to this country. Its churches, cathedrals, schools, and charities are part of the fabric of our communities.

“The Archbishop of Canterbury will play a key role in our national life. I wish her every success and look forward to working together.”

Lord Evans of Weardale, chair of the Crown Nominations Commission for Canterbury, said he will be “praying for Bishop Sarah as she prepares to take up this new ministry in the coming months”.

Dame Sarah is the government’s former chief nursing officer for England, becoming the youngest holder of the role, having specialised as a cancer nurse.

She trained for ministry at the South East Institute of Theological Education, having studied at South Bank University, London, and Heythrop College, University of London. She is currently the Bishop of London.

While making history as the first woman in the role, she will be seen by many as a safe pair of hands, given her extensive experience.

She was ordained in 2001 and in 2004 took up a full-time ministry in the London borough of Sutton. She was made a Dame in 2005 in recognition of her outstanding contribution to nursing and midwifery.

While the Archbishop of Canterbury is automatically granted a seat in the House of Lords, Dame Sarah has had a place there since 2018 as a senior bishop.

Dame Sarah is seen as progressive on the issue of same-sex blessings in the Church – a subject which has seen strongly competing opinions among Church members.

In 2023, after a vote to approve blessings, she described the result as a “moment of hope for the Church” but recognised that differences of opinion remained.

She said: “I know that what we have proposed as a way forward does not go nearly far enough for many but too far for others.”

The appointment comes after an almost year-long wait since Justin Welby announced he would be resigning over a safeguarding scandal.

He announced he would quit last November over failures in the wake of the damning Makin review, which implicated him in the Church’s failure to protect victims from serial abuser John Smyth.

The review concluded Smyth might have been brought to justice had the archbishop formally alerted authorities in 2013.

In a job description published earlier this year by the Diocese of Canterbury, it was stated that the person filling the role should be someone of “the utmost integrity who is able to speak honestly” about failures and injustices in the Church, and a “servant leader, who shows compassion towards the disadvantaged and marginalised”.

Archbishop of York Stephen Cottrell took on most of the responsibilities in the interim, and was one of the voting members of the body charged with choosing Mr Welby’s successor.

Health secretary Wes Streeting also welcomed Dame Sarah’s appointment, dubbing her “the nurse who became Archbishop of Canterbury.

“A wonderful choice. Kind, caring and compassionate,” he said.

Eats, Beats and Storied Streets: A journey through Louisiana

Few places in America are as spellbinding as Louisiana. Streets are alive with music, every table groans with food that tells a story, and every river bend reveals landscapes as mysterious as they are beautiful. Whether you’re dancing to zydeco in Lafayette, devouring beignets in the French Quarter, or gliding through the Atchafalaya swamps in search of alligators, this is a destination which offers travellers an unforgettable blend of rhythm, flavour and culture.

Music that Moves You

A seemingly never-ending party, a stroll through the bouncing streets of New Orleans’ French Quarter is one of America’s most thrilling sensory experiences. Guitars crunch, symbols crash and horns howl on every street corner, from Bourbon Street to Frenchmen Street. This Cajun corner of the US has a deep heritage too, and the Preservation Hall – dating back to 1961 – is an essential stop. With its intimate time-worn walls and wooden chairs facing the small stage, it’s a shrine to New Orleans jazz and every note should be savoured.

But Louisiana’s music tradition goes far beyond the Big Easy. Beginning in 1981, the Baton Rouge Blues Festival is one of the country’s oldest blues festivals and the state capital is a haven of Cajun music. It’s also the home of the swamp blues, so to hear the best of these laid-back rhythms, spend a foot-tapping night at Phil Brady’s Bar & Grill or Henry Turner Jr’s Listening Room. And for a little backyard boogie from local Louisiana musicians, try and hit the wonderfully chilled out Bee Nice Concert Series.

One of the more niche regional sounds is zydeco, and these infectious beats driven by accordions and washboards are perfect for dancing the night away. Over in Lafayette, the lush outdoor Hideaway on Lee and the charming Blue Moon Saloon host high-energy zydeco and Cajun jams. For a deeper dive into this unique music of the swamp, drop by the Festivals Acadiens et Créoles for three glorious days of Cajun, Creole, and zydeco sounds.

Flavours to Savour

Louisiana has one of America’s most distinct food cultures, with Creole dishes like gumbo and jambalaya not found anywhere else. Needless to say, the fiery flavours found in these creations are sublime and it’s no surprise that 2025 is Louisiana’s Year of Food.

With its rich broth, often featuring a roux base and embellished by juicy shrimp and thick sausage, gumbo is arguably the quintessential Creole dish. If you’re in New Orleans, look no further than no–frills downtown spots like Coop’s Place or head out to neighbourhood joints like the upscale Gabrielle Restaurant who serve a smoky take on Cajun-style gumbo or the dense dishes plated up at Liuzza’s by the Track. And if you’re so enraptured by this unique stew, then learn how to make it at home at the New Orleans School of Cooking.

A Cajun rice dish that originated in southern Louisiana in the 18th Century, Jambalaya is also iconic down here and can include meats, vegetables, seafood and spices in its mouthwatering mix. The Jambalaya Shoppe is dotted all around southern Louisiana and is a good place to start, though make time to visit Gonzales – the ‘Jambalaya Capital of the World. It even has its own Jambalaya Festival every spring.

Remember to make time for sweet treats though, as Louisiana’s beignets are something special. Warm, deep-fried pastries dusted with powdered sugar, these gentle delights are the perfect cafe snack. Open since 1862, the Cafe du Monde is an iconic French Quarter spot to watch the world go by with a beignet and café au lait.

And if you’re here for Mardi Gras, make sure to sample the sweet colourful King Cake as the jaunty floats pass by.

Culture and the Great Outdoors

Louisiana’s diverse cultural heritage is as unique as its landscape. French, Spanish, African, Caribbean and native influences all converge into Cajun and Creole identities and that’s most famously reflected in the state’s sublime cuisine. But don’t miss the great outdoors, as Louisiana’s biodiversity is enchanting too.

Acadiana’s humid moss-cloaked swamps and bayous are one of America’s last wildernesses, and boat tours of these serene and ethereal landscapes are unforgettable, especially if you spot wildlife like American Alligators, beavers, herons, eagles and white tail deer. The Atchafalaya Basin, just east of Lafayette, is a particular haven and several airboat tours depart from here, including McGee’s Swamp Tours and Last Wilderness Swamp Tours.

Road trails through these bayous can be just as inspiring, and the Bayou Teche National Byway tells stories. Running for 183 miles from Arnaudville down to Morgan City, this serpentine route passes by ornate antebellum homes like Shadows-on-the-Teche, tranquil fields of sugar cane, breezy swamps and historic towns packed with friendly cafes, zydeco dancehalls and local museums.

Look out for the region’s lively 400+ festivals too, which often celebrate Louisiana’s local culture. The Festival International de Louisiane in Lafayette celebrates the links between Acadiana and the Francophone world, through music, art and food, while the Southwest Louisiana Zydeco Music Festival in Opelousas aims to preserve Louisiana’s most gleeful music genre. And there’s no better way of learning about the state’s people and heritage than at the various tours, concerts, talks and cultural events held in Vermillionville in Lafayette.

Revealed: Areas threatened by Reform’s controversial pro-fracking agenda

More than 180 constituencies are threatened by Reform UK’s controversial pro-fracking agenda, new research has revealed.

The analysis by Friends of the Earth this week identifies the parliamentary areas that could be vulnerable to development for fracking if Nigel Farage’s party were to get into government.

A total of 187 constituencies are partially or totally within areas the British Geological Society has labelled ‘Shale Prospective Areas’ – locales where specific geologic conditions exist that could make fracking viable – according to the environmental justice organisation.

Of these constituencies, it found that 141 are existing Labour seats, 25 are Conservative, 15 are held by the Liberal Democrats and 2 by Reform, with swathes of Scotland, the North of England, the Midlands and the South potentially at risk. MPs, including former deputy prime minister Angela Rayner, Reform’s Lee Anderson and energy secretary Ed Miliband, are among those whose constituencies could be affected.

The Independent has now mapped out the research, showing the proportion of shale areas in each constituency, as well as the political party of the local MP.

Fracking, or hydraulic fracturing, is a method of extracting oil and gas from shale rock by pumping liquids deep underground at high pressures to release the gas trapped inside.

There is a de facto ban on fracking in the UK, originally brought in six years ago. The government ended its support for fracking in 2019 after an Oil and Gas Authority report found it was not possible to accurately predict the probability of tremors associated with the practice.

But Reform has called for more extraction of oil and gas, pledging to “unlock Britain’s vast energy treasure of oil and gas to slash energy bills, beat the cost-of-living crisis and unleash real economic growth”.

Last month, YouGov polling revealed the unpopularity of fracking with the public, with twice as many people opposing the practice as supporting it. This runs parallel to the consistent local opposition that communities facing the threat of fracking have mounted against developments over many years, which – along with tremors at Cuadrilla’s Preston New Road site – eventually led to the moratorium in 2019.

Environmental groups say the potential risks that fracking poses to water and air quality, as well as industrial sites blighting the countryside, the prospect of unpredictable earthquakes and the harmful warming effects that fracking contributes to climate breakdown, are all reasons that the practice has met resistance and failed to get off the ground in the UK.

Environmental campaigners have criticised Reform’s fracking policy, with Greenpeace UK’s Angharad Hopkinson calling the practice “polluting” and “deeply unpopular”.

Friends of the Earth is calling on the government to bring forward its permanent ban on the practice. At the Labour party conference this week, the energy secretary confirmed plans to bring forward legislation to end new onshore oil and gas licensing in England, including new licences that could be used for fracking.

Tony Bosworth, a climate campaigner at the charity, said: “Wherever attempts to get fracking off the ground in the UK have been made, local communities have always been in staunch opposition knowing they’ll pay the true environmental and local costs of developers’ get-rich schemes.

“Reform has seriously miscalculated if it thinks people will lie down and accept such a deeply unpopular policy were it ever to get into power.

“The fact remains that fracking will do absolutely nothing to ease the pain being felt in people’s lives either. With the price of gas dictated by global markets, it won’t make a drop of difference to our bills. The real path to cheap and affordable energy is going green and clean by unlocking the UK’s vast renewable power potential.”

The Independent has approached Reform for comment.

Michelle Mone says she won’t return as Conservative peer

Michelle Mone has hit out at Kemi Badenoch and said she has no wish to return to the Lords as a Conservative peer after a company linked to her was ordered to repay millions of pounds for breaching a Covid-19 PPE contract.

On Wednesday, PPE Medpro was ordered to pay back the government nearly £122m.

In response, several high-profile politicians have called for Lady Mone to relinquish her seat in the Lords, with Tory leader Ms Badenoch saying she had brought “embarrassment and shame to the party”, and should have the “book thrown at her”.

In a letter to Ms Badenoch on Friday, Lady Mone hit out, saying there seemed to be “amnesia” over her loss of the Conservative whip, and that she had “removed it myself by taking a leave of absence”.

She continued: “However, you will be pleased to hear that once I do clear my name, I have no wish to return to the Lords as a Conservative peer; that’s assuming there still is a Conservative Party before the next general election.”

She also said the Conservative government knew of her involvement and named former health secretary Matt Hancock, Lord Agnew, Lord Feldman and Lord Chadlington as among 51 “mostly Conservative peers and MPs” who introduced PPE providers to the VIP lane.

“So, Kemi, my role was exactly the same as all other Conservative MPs and peers who were trying to help provide PPE,” she added.

“If I have done wrong, then so have all the others in the VIP lane. In which case, you should be calling out for them to resign as well. That’s if you manage to work out what it is they are supposed to have done wrong.”

The outburst came as an online petition calling for Baroness Mone to step down from the Lords, launched by the Covid-19 Bereaved Families for Justice, attracted 60,000 signatures in 24 hours.

The Conservatives later said Lady Mone had already been informed she would not be given the Tory whip were she to return to the Lords.

A party spokesperson said: “Baroness Mone has not been in receipt of the Conservative whip since she took a leave of absence from the House of Lords, and she is not a Conservative Party member.

“Baroness Mone was formally written to yesterday by the Lords chief whip, and informed that she would not receive the Conservative whip were she ever to return.

“Under Kemi Badenoch’s leadership, the Conservative Party expects parliamentarians to maintain the highest standards, and on this Baroness Mone has fallen well short.”