Israel urges Jews to ‘come home’ after Bondi Beach massacre

Israel’s foreign minister has called on Jews living in Western countries to move to Israel, saying Jewish communities worldwide are no longer safe, days after 15 people were killed in an attack on a Hanukkah celebration in Sydney.

Speaking at a candle-lighting ceremony marking the final day of Hanukkah, Gideon Saar said antisemitism had reached a point where Jews were being targeted across multiple countries.

“Jews have the right to live in safety everywhere. But we see and fully understand what is happening, and we have a certain historical experience,” he said. “Today, Jews are being hunted across the world.”

Addressing Jewish communities in specific countries by name, Mr Saar added: “Today I call on Jews in England, Jews in France, Jews in Australia, Jews in Canada, Jews in Belgium: come to the Land of Israel! Come home!”

The remarks came one week after gunmen opened fire at a Jewish festival on Sydney’s Bondi Beach, killing 15 people aged between 10 and 87 and injuring dozens more.

Australian authorities have said the 14 December attack was inspired by the ideology of the jihadist group Isis.

One suspect, Naveed Akram, 24, has been charged with 15 counts of murder and 40 counts of causing harm with intent to murder. His father, Sajid Akram, was shot dead by police at the scene.

Mr Saar said Israelis were “waiting for you here with open arms, with love, in the true home of the Jewish people”, urging families to leave countries he said had failed to contain antisemitism. “Why raise your children in this atmosphere?” he said. “The time has come.”

Israeli leaders have repeatedly linked the rise in antisemitic attacks overseas to the war in Gaza, which began after Hamas carried out an unprecedented assault on Israel on 7 October 2023. On Tuesday, Israel’s prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, urged Western governments to do more to protect Jewish citizens.

“I demand that Western governments do what is necessary to fight antisemitism and provide the required safety and security for Jewish communities worldwide,” Mr Netanyahu said in a video address.

In October, Mr Saar accused British authorities of failing to act against what he called a “toxic wave of antisemitism” after an attack outside a synagogue in Manchester on Yom Kippur, the holiest day in the Jewish calendar, in which two people were killed and four injured.

Under Israel’s 1950 Law of Return, any Jewish person worldwide has the right to immigrate to Israel – a process known as aliyah, meaning “ascent” in Hebrew – and receive citizenship. The law also extends to individuals with at least one Jewish grandparent, a provision introduced to reflect Nazi-era racial laws that targeted people beyond practising Jews.

In Australia, the Bondi massacre has triggered nationwide mourning and political fallout. More than 10,000 people gathered under heavy police security at Bondi Beach on Sunday evening to mark a week since the attack. Prime minister Anthony Albanese, former prime ministers John Howard and Scott Morrison, and governor-general Sam Mostyn attended the commemoration.

“This has to be the nadir of antisemitism in our country,” said David Ossip, president of the New South Wales Jewish Board of Deputies. “This has to be the moment when light starts to eclipse the darkness.” Mr Albanese was booed when Mr Ossip acknowledged his presence, while opposition leader Sussan Ley was cheered.

Mr Netanyahu has sharply criticised Mr Albanese, saying Australia’s recognition of a Palestinian state earlier this year “pours fuel on the antisemitic fire”.

Senior figures in Israel have sought to link calls for Palestinian statehood and criticism of Israel’s military campaign in Gaza with rising antisemitism globally.

Australia formally recognised Palestine in September, following similar moves by the UK and Canada, as part of long-standing bipartisan support for a two-state solution.

The issue has become increasingly contentious domestically. Bridget McKenzie, deputy leader of the Nationals, accused the Albanese government of having “failed Jewish Australians” and claimed recognition of Palestine had contributed to rising antisemitism, arguing that “to hate Israel is to hate Jews”.

Sunday’s commemoration featured tributes to the victims, with images projected onto large screens and the song Waltzing Matilda sung in honour of the youngest child killed.

Ahmed al Ahmed, a Syrian-born immigrant hailed as a hero for disarming one of the attackers before being shot, sent a message from his hospital bed. “The Lord is close to the broken-hearted. Today I stand with you, my brothers and sisters,” he wrote. His father, Mohamed Fateh al Ahmed, was invited to light a candle on the menorah.

Australia observed a national Day of Reflection, with flags flying at half-mast and government buildings illuminated in yellow. At 6.47pm, the moment the shooting began, people across the country observed a minute’s silence. Television and radio broadcasts also paused.

The federal government has announced a review of law enforcement and intelligence responses, while state and national leaders have pledged to tighten already strict gun laws. Sajid Akram legally owned six firearms, including the weapons used in the attack. The New South Wales parliament was reconvened on Monday for a two-day debate on new hate speech and gun legislation.

Alex Ryvchin, co-chief executive of the Executive Council of Australian Jewry, said families of the victims felt “tragically, unforgivably let down” by what he described as government failures to curb antisemitism since the Gaza war began.

The Bondi attack was the deadliest mass shooting in Australia since 35 people were killed in Port Arthur, Tasmania, in 1996 – an event that led to sweeping national gun reforms.

Lush boss says customers who oppose his views on Gaza shouldn’t shop at his stores

The co-founder of Lush has said those who oppose his views on key issues such as Gaza shouldn’t shop in his stores.

Mark Constantine OBE, who led a shutdown of Lush stores earlier this year in solidarity with people in Gaza, said people “shouldn’t come into my shop” if they disagreed with his stance.

Speaking on the BBC’s Big Boss Interview podcast, Mr Constantine said he believed in being “kind, sympathetic and compassionate”, and said people are “not going to get on very well with me” if they are “unkind to others”.

He said: “I’m often called left-wing because I’m interested in compassion. I don’t think being compassionate has a political stance, I think being kind, being sympathetic, being compassionate is something we’re all capable of and all want to do in certain areas.”

When asked whether his stances could impact business, for example, if someone decided not to shop at Lush due to his stance on Gaza, he said: “Absolutely, that’s what you [the shopper] should do. You shouldn’t come into my shop. Because I’m going to take those profits you’re giving me and I’m going to do more of that – so you absolutely shouldn’t support me.

“The only problem is, who are you going to support? And what are you supporting when you do that, what is your position?

He added: “I think it’s up to people if they want to fox hunt and shoot pheasants, it’s up to them, but I don’t approve of it.”

In September, the cosmetics chain shut all of its UK stores and closed its website for the day in solidarity with people starving in Gaza.

In a statement on its website, the company said: “Across the Lush business we share the anguish that millions of people feel seeing the images of starving people in Gaza, Palestine.”

The business, which trades in more than 50 countries, said it had put messages in the windows of closed shops which read: “Stop starving Gaza, we are closed in solidarity.”

Speaking on the BBC podcast, Mr Constantine also criticised changes made by the government on inheritance tax, from 6 April 2026, which will see the removal of the full exemption for family businesses, with only the first £1million to be tax free.

“They don’t understand the strength of family businesses… and they have been sold a belief in a greedy culture,” he said, adding there was a risk people will sell businesses rather than pay inheritance tax bills.

Two teenagers killed and one critically injured in Tesla crash

Two teenagers have died and another is in hospital with life-threatening injuries, after a car collided with a tree in Surrey.

A 30-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of causing death and serious injury by dangerous driving, following the fatal collision in Hurst Green.

Officers were called to Holland Road shortly before 10pm on Saturday night following reports of a serious collision involving a white Tesla ploughing into a tree.

One man in his late teens sadly died at the scene, and a second died later in hospital. Both families have been informed and are being supported by officers.

A third teenager remains in hospital with life-threatening injuries, police said.

The driver of the Tesla was taken to hospital with serious injuries and Surrey Police is now appealing for witnesses.

In a statement Surrey Police said: “A 30-year-old man from Oxted has been arrested on suspicion of causing death by dangerous driving and causing serious injury by dangerous driving.

“Holland Road remains closed between the junction with Popes Lane and the junction with Warren Lane whilst officers carry out enquiries. It is expected to remain closed for several hours. Please avoid the area.

“We are asking anyone who may have witnessed this collision to get in touch.

“We are also seeking CCTV, dashcam, or helmet cam footage that may have captured all or part of this incident.”

David Walliams dropped from children’s book festival after inappropriate behaviour claims

David Walliams has been dropped from Waterstones Children’s Book Festival following allegations of inappropriate behaviour.

The comedian, 54, was due to appear at the event in February, but organisers have confirmed to The Independent he will no longer be in attendance after he was dropped by publisher HarperCollins last week.

“David Walliams will no longer be appearing at our festival in Dundee,” a statement read.

Walliams has been accused of behaving inappropriately towards young women. A junior colleague is said to have complained about his conduct, leading to other staff members being interviewed.

Former employees who worked for the publishing company alleged to The Telegraph that they were advised to work in pairs when meeting with him and told not to visit his home.

The Little Britain star and former Britain’s Got Talent judge’s spokesperson said he “strongly denies” any claims and was not informed about or party to an investigation by HarperCollins.

Gangsta Granny author Walliams, one of the UK’s most established and successful award-winning children’s authors, was booked for the Waterstones literary festival after its inaugural edition earlier this year.

The event is described as “a family-friendly celebration of stories and illustration, highlighting the joys of reading, writing, and drawing”.

Following news that Walliams had been dropped by HarperCollins, the BBC faced calls to pull an episode of the game show Would I Lie to You? that the comedian recorded earlier this year.

A BBC spokesperson told The Independent: “While we’re not making any changes to the festive schedules, we have no future projects directly involving David Walliams.”

Walliams’s appearance on the special episode made headlines earlier this year, after it emerged that he had given two Nazi salutes during the recording.

The comedian and children’s author was said to have shocked host Rob Brydon and fellow celebrity panellists, including Jools Holland and Helen George, with the gesture.

At the time, the BBC apologised over the incident and the scene was deleted from the episode.

Walliams, who has sold an estimated 60 million books worldwide, rose to fame more than 20 years ago through the comedy series Little Britain, alongside Matt Lucas. The show was hugely popular at the time but has come under fire in recent years over use of Blackface in the series and claims it was sexist, classist and homophobic.

In 2022, Walliams faced criticism after he was caught making obscene comments about contestants on Britain’s Got Talent.

A leaked transcript revealed that he called one auditioning contestant a “c***” and said of another: “She thinks you want to f*** her, but you don’t.”

Walliams subsequently left his role on the show, and apologised for the “disrespectful comments”, saying they were part of a private conversation that was “never intended to be shared”.

He sued FremantleMedia, the production company that makes BGT, for the leaking of his private remarks. The matter was settled in November 2023.

Trump photo found in Epstein files is restored after outcry from Democrats and Republicans

A deleted picture from the Epstein files, which appears to depict the convicted pedophile’s images of Donald Trump, has been re-released.

The photograph appeared to show a drawer in one of the convicted pedophile’s cabinets, which contained images of the current president.

Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche described speculation around the deletion of the photograph as “laughable” and claimed that it has been removed over “concerns” about the safety of the people shown in the image.

“It has nothing to do with President Trump,” he told Meet the Press.

Meanwhile, California Representative Robert Garcia has called on FBI and DOJ whistleblowers to come forward as anger grows over the Trump administration’s management of the release of the Epstein files.

Garcia, the top Democrat on the Oversight Committee, blasted the Trump administration for heavily redacting the files and missing the legal deadline to release them in full.

“What they need to understand is that there are hundreds of FBI agents and others that are good American patriots that have worked to put these files together. They know what is in them,” Garcia said Sunday on MS NOW.

It’s about experience: Further Education teachers share what it takes

In the modern world, many of us are working longer than ever. Research based on ONS Labour Market data found that there are almost one million more workers aged 65 and above since the millennium and the state pension is set to rise to 67 by 2028 and 68 by the late 2030s. Subsequently, having multiple careers is becoming increasingly popular. And after decades working in a specific industry, sharing the work-based knowledge you have gained via teaching in further education is one of the most rewarding career shifts you can make.

Further Education teaching (defined as any education for people aged 16 and over who aren’t studying for a degree) allows you to switch up your working days and harness the skills and experience you have developed, all while helping shape the next generation of workers in your field.

To find out more about the role, from what it takes to the best parts of the job, we spoke to Further Education teachers who have switched from doing their day job to teaching it…

John Ryan, 51, from Weston Super Mare, worked for more than a decade on site in the construction industry, mainly in bricklaying and supervising roles, before an opportunity to become a Further Education assessor changed his path in his thirties. Travelling nationally to assess the work of new bricklayers in order to sign off their NVQs (National Vocational Qualification), the college John was associated with then started offering him some teaching work.

With no prior teaching qualifications, John completed these alongside his assessing and teaching roles with the fees picked up by the teaching college. “I liked the idea of passing on my knowledge and giving young people the skills and confidence to progress in a trade,” he says. “Teaching in Further Education felt like a natural next step because it would allow me to combine my practical background with coaching and mentoring.” There were practical draws too. “On site in the construction industry you are self-employed so you do not get holidays or sick pay. The stability of income and regular paid holidays was a big draw of Further Education teaching,” he adds.

Since his first assessing role 18 years ago, John has worked between assessing, teaching and jobs back on the construction site and now, he currently teaches bricklaying and groundwork full-time at South Gloucestershire and Stroud College.

John’s extensive site and supervisory experience has proved to be hugely valuable when it comes to teaching his students there. “I can explain not just the ‘how’ but also the ‘why’ behind industry standards,” he explains. “Learners often respond well to hearing about real jobs, site challenges, and the professional behaviours that employers expect. It makes the lessons more relatable and credible,” he shares.

“For example, I can share stories of accidents when teaching site safety, or explain how a mistake of a few millimetres on a construction site can cost you time to rectify, which in turn will cost you money,” he says. “These hands-on, real world experiences make the theory relatable and show learners the real value of getting it right.”

Coral Aspinall, 52, who became a full-time Further Education teacher 12 years ago, agrees. “My experience allows me to put my teaching into context,” she says. Coral started out her engineering career at 16 as an apprentice in a local engineering company. Following a BSc in Engineering and Business Management, she worked for many years in the engineering industry before enrolling on a part-time PGDE (Professional Graduate Diploma in Education) course for teaching. She’s now the Engineering Programme Leader at the Stockport campus of the Trafford and Stockport College Group. Here, they offer qualifications such as Level 2 Performing Engineering Operations as well as engineering-focused Level 3 T Levels and Level 3 Btec Awards. They also offer Level 3 apprenticeships across engineering including Technical Support, Engineering Fitter and Maintenance Management.

“Because I’ve been an engineering apprentice myself, I understand what the student needs to be successful in terms of skills, knowledge and behaviour,” she explains. “I also have contacts in the wider engineering community and understand what an employer is looking for in an apprentice, and can also share insights in terms of how the sector is shifting and evolving to help support their progress.”

Working for an extensive period of time in a field before passing on that knowledge gives teachers maturity and empathy which can be hugely helpful for students, especially those facing complex life situations.

Beyond the practical techniques, a big part of John’s role is helping learners build confidence, teamwork, communication, and problem-solving skills that employers look for. “Many of my learners have different challenges, so they value teachers who are approachable, who believe in them, and who prepare them for real opportunities in work or further study,” he says. For John, his previous work experience has allowed him to do this. “On site, I worked with people facing all sorts of pressures, from work to life issues, which taught me to be patient and supportive,” he explains.

Coral has had a similar experience. “I see my role as more than imparting knowledge; it is about preparing the young person for the next stage of their journey. The students trust me to have their best interests at heart; they come to me for advice on their next steps and how they can achieve their aspirations, and I’ll support them with both practical advice and words of encouragement.”

For Coral, teaching later in life allows her to draw from a mature perspective, and teach her students positive workplace behaviours alongside skills and knowledge. “Students thrive when they have clear unambiguous boundaries, so I’m firm around expectations in terms of timekeeping, attendance and attitude. This is particularly important to succeeding in the workplace as employers value these behaviours as much as, or even more than having specific expertise or know-how (which can generally be developed).”

If you’re looking for a fresh career option, and keen to share your skills with the next generation, Further Education teaching could be a really enriching new phase. Further Education covers a huge range of career sectors including construction, law, engineering, digital, hospitality, tourism, beauty and more. This includes BTECs (Business and Technology Education Council qualifications), T Levels, NVQs (National Vocational Qualifications) or City & Guilds Qualifications.

Teaching in a mixture of colleges (often General Further Education Colleges or Sixth Form Colleges) and Adult and Community Learning Centres as well as workplace and apprenticeship settings, further education teachers share their years of real world industry skills with a diverse mix of people from those straight out of school aged sixteen to those making career switches later in life.

You don’t always need an academic degree or prior teaching qualifications to start teaching in further education. You can undertake teacher training on the job, often funded by your employer, so you can start earning straight away.. Furthermore, it doesn’t mean you have to stop working in your chosen field. Further education offers hybrid opportunities – so you could teach part time alongside your other commitments. This means you could have the best of both worlds, where you are still working in your chosen industry and teaching alongside it at a time that suits your schedule. Find out if it’s the right move for you here.

If, like John and Coral, you see the appeal in sharing the knowledge and skills you’ve developed with the next generation, exploring the option of becoming a Further Education teacher can be a great next step. As John shares, the reward is always worth it: “It never gets old passing on my knowledge to people starting on their journey, knowing I have made a difference and getting a smile and thanks in return!”

Looking for a new role that’s rewarding, flexible and draws on your current career? Why not consider sharing your experience where it matters most – helping inspire the next generation of workers in the field you love? Visit Further Education to find out more

Rising prices, closing early and no Christmas parties: ‘perfect storm’ leaves pubs on the brink

When Jo Loring started running the Cosy Dove pub in Newcastle 11 years ago, he would have to usher his customers out of the doors at 11pm so he could close up over Christmas.

Now, after a year of relentless financial challenges, he says he’ll probably be closing early this year, with fewer punters there to hear the bell ringing out for last orders.

“We’ll be closing early because there’s virtually no one around,” he told The Independent, adding he thinks he’ll be around 20 per cent down on sales from last year.

“It’s what you’d call a perfect storm,” he said. “It’s a very different landscape and it’s ever changing and all the pubs around me are saying a similar thing.”

Mr Loring is one of countless pub owners across the UK fearing one of the most challenging festive seasons the industry has ever seen.

Dawn Hopkins, 56, who runs the Rose Inn in Norwich, described having a “tsunami of cost rises”, which have hit independent businesses hard.

Like many other pubs, she will be serving more expensive pints this Christmas, with most looking at rises from 30p to 50p a pint.

Ms Hopkins, who is also the vice-chair of Campaign For Pubs, said: “I’m hearing from people who say they are really quiet and they are a bit worried. Some hope they’re going to get to Christmas Day but don’t know if they will.”

Figures from trade bodies said one pub would be closing their doors every single day in 2025, with more than 400 having closed their doors in 2024. The closures come amid a continued struggle from the pandemic, alongside what many pub owners believe to be hostile financial measures brought in by successive governments.

Alastair Scoular took over his family pub The Steam Packet Inn in 1995, but says he has never experienced the industry in rural Scotland as “tough as it is” right now.

“Usually Christmas in Scotland tends to be a lot busier around the New Year and we’d get quite a few parties in the run up – but we’ve certainly not had the same number of bookings,” he said.

“We’re going to take what we can but it won’t be a golden time that will help us get through the winter. I used to bank on a certain amount of income to get through January and February but I’m not this year.”

Tom McNeeney has run The Oxford in Rochdale for 13 years, but says the last 12 months have been “disheartening”.

He says his pub, which employs 21 people and serves around 1,800 customers a week, is seeing a return of footfall from Covid – yet is still struggling with profitability.

“The pubs that are still open are busier than ever – but profitability is lower than it’s ever been,” he said.

“What we’re seeing is almost impossible to comprehend because pubs that are busier than they’ve been in six years are closing up shop because profitability is at an all time low.”

He added: “In December, we are going to be busy and seen on the face of it as thriving but that’s part of the problem. It’s easy to look at a busy business and assume it’s doing well but the reality underneath is that there’s a real problem with keeping open.”

Mr McNeeney also explained that young people – who are likely to go out and be sociable at Christmas – have been particularly impacted by the loss of approximately 89,000 jobs in the sector.

He said reforms to business rates as well as a higher rates of pay in 16-21-year-olds mean the sector will see this “epidemic of unemployment reach new highs”.

“Most people in that under 25s bracket are the people who go out and discover places in the local area but if they don’t have part time jobs or disposable income they’re not investing in the local businesses and communities around them,” he said.

He also said that December, once a time to look forward to profit, is now “a downpayment for January”, where he will have to reduce opening hours and close for a week.

Wesley Birch, 40, who runs a catering company and two pubs in Stroud, told The Independent he and his wife have had to waive their salary for the first time since they began running Birch Catering 15 years ago.

Mr Birch, who runs the Ship Inn and The Old Neighbourhood Inn, said that though there has never been a lot of profit in hospitality, this year had seen them “work for nothing”.

“We’re really well supported by the community – but the problem is there’s no profit margins,” he said, adding there are concerns people will “tighten their belts” once more after tax rises in this year’s Budget.

He said: “Having as much turnover this Christmas is vital, whereas in previous years I didn’t even think about it. I used to have enough profit in the business to give people time off but this year it’s not possible at all.”

Chris Welch, 39, who runs the Fishnet Tavern in North Tyneside, said his pub almost had to close last January, and fears being in a worse position after Christmas.

“I’m terrified this year. I feel like I’m personally trying to do a good deed by employing five staff and creating local employment, but I’m dreading it. Every month feels like an uphill battle. I don’t even take a wage,” he said.

Sir Keir Starmer has called “pubs and bars are the beating heart of our communities”, and said that the government was “backing them to thrive”.

But after hearing Labour’s 2025 Budget, Mr Welch said his business rates evaluation is set to increase by an extra £4,00 each year, calling the announcement a “disgrace”.

“It’s dark times for pubs and I doubt we will survive past August next year,” he said.

In Crewe, Jacqui Ayling and her husband Sean think this could be their last Christmas running Tom’s Tap and Brewhouse.

The pair have already had to close on Mondays and Tuesdays, and are planning on closing on Wednesdays and Sundays through the colder months.

“We cannot afford the overheads incurred by opening the pub for a session in the cold months when our customers are less likely to come out on those days,” she said.

This Christmas, they’ve had to think much more about getting people through the door – having noticed a sharp drop in Christmas parties being booked.

“We were maybe doing one or two a week, eight or so in December – but not one this year,” she said. “Companies are cutting down as well so they can’t afford staff parties anymore. It’s had a knock on effect.”

Fiona Hornsby, 45, runs three pubs in Liverpool, but similarly said trying to get people into venues for Christmas dos is getting increasingly harder.

“We are decorating the exterior this year too so we stick out a bit more so people can see you,” she said. “You’ve got to be everywhere now, it’s getting harder.”

Gary Timmins CAMRA pub and club campaigns director said extra footfall over the festive period is “vital” and helps to see them through the quieter months at the start of the year.

But he said: “Government also needs to play their part to reduce costs and give our locals a fighting chance by making the business rates, VAT and beer duty systems fairer. Otherwise we risk losing more pubs for good.”

Business minister Kate Dearden said: “Pubs are essential parts of our communities and vital to our economy. Running them takes hard work and dedication. We know that pubs need our support to deliver and we’ve begun that work by capping business rates for most properties at 15 per cent, when they were facing a 45 per cent hike.

“We’re slashing red tape so that more pubs can offer al fresco dining, and more funding to support rural pubs.“At the budget we made the decision to ask online giants and the wealthiest properties to pay more, so local pubs and communities get the backing they deserve.”

New equalities boss warns against ‘demonisation’ of migrants in UK

The “demonisation” of migrants can hurt UK citizens and make their lives “very, very difficult”, the new chair of Britain’s equalities watchdog has warned.

Dr Mary-Ann Stephenson said those from ethnic minorities were being affected as she also warned against the “mistake” of leaving the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR), a policy backed by Reform UK and the Conservatives.

Nearly 250 refugee charities called for a move away from the “demonising language of the past” as they condemned the anti-migrant violence of last August, which saw rioters storm hotels housing asylum seekers.

Dr Stephenson said: “I think it’s really important that we have honesty in the way that we talk about human rights, and that we also have a recognition that the demonisation of migrants, the creating this idea that migration causes huge risks for the country can make the lives not just of migrants to the UK, but of ethnic minority UK citizens, very, very difficult.”

She hit out at what she said was a “real risk of people using, quite often, cases where human rights arguments were made in court but were not successful”, in an interview with the Press Association.

She pointed to research from the University of Oxford earlier this year that highlighted “several high-profile examples of misleading coverage, including the so-called ‘chicken nuggets’ case – widely reported as the prevention of an individual’s deportation on the basis of his child’s dislike of foreign food, despite the decision not being based on this detail and having already been overturned”.

She also highlighted positive cases of the use of ECHR, including the John Worboys black cab rapist case, in which the Supreme Court ruled that police can be held liable for serious failures in their investigations.

Both the Conservatives and Reform UK have said they would quit the ECHR as part of efforts to tackle immigration, amid claims it hampers efforts to deport illegal migrants.

The government has rejected calls to leave the treaty but ministers are reviewing human rights law to make it easier to deport people who have no right to be in the UK.

Earlier this month the head of the body that oversees the ECHR said member states had taken an “important first step” by agreeing to look at reform of the treaty to tackle migration.

Sir Keir Starmer had urged Europe’s leaders to re-examine how the major human rights treaty was interpreted to tackle illegal migration and see off the rise of the far right.

Council of Europe secretary general Alain Berset said that the treaty, which he described as a “living instrument”, is possible to adapt and work will begin to adopt the new political declaration in Moldova in May 2026.