UK ministers accused of weakening legal protections for torture victims

UK government sources denied that torture victims would be affected by the change, saying that ‘absolute protections’ would remain. Photograph: Gary Calton/The Observer

Keir Starmer’s government has been accused of trying to water down legal protections for torture victims as ministers from 46 countries including the UK prepare to make it easier to deport refused asylum seekers and foreign criminals.

Yvette Cooper, the foreign secretary, is expected to agree a “political declaration” on Friday with other members of the Council of Europe, which oversees the European convention on human rights (ECHR).