Shabana Mahmood says UK will seek reform of human rights convention

‘We can preserve rights by restoring public confidence in them rather than give ground to populism,’ Mahmood said. Photograph: Danny Lawson/PA Media

The justice secretary, Shabana Mahmood, has said Britain will pursue reform of the European convention on human rights (ECHR), both at home and in Strasbourg, saying “public confidence in the rule of law is fraying”.

Mahmood’s warning in her speech at the Council of Europe came as the home secretary, Yvette Cooper, said she would undertake an examination of how the courts were applying the right to freedom from degrading treatment.