A series of recent polls indicate that a majority of the British public wishes to remain part of the European Convention on Human Rights, a stance that has solidified over the past decade. Despite a contentious political debate, often linking the ECHR to immigration and national sovereignty, public support for withdrawal has not surpassed opposition in recent years. Instead, voters have consistently signaled a preference for the government to prioritize domestic issues, such as the cost of living, over a departure from the international human rights treaty.
This trend of public opinion favoring continued membership in the ECHR comes at a time when the issue has become a significant talking point for some political parties. Proposals to leave the convention have been positioned as a solution to halt migrant deportations and reclaim legal autonomy. However, the polling data suggests a significant disconnect between this political focus and the priorities of the electorate. A substantial portion of the public remains undecided or professes limited knowledge about the ECHR, indicating that for many, the issue is not a primary concern.
Public Opinion in Polls
Multiple polls conducted in 2025 illustrate a consistent pattern of public opinion on the ECHR. A YouGov poll from early October 2025 found that 46% of the public are opposed to leaving the ECHR, while 29% believe the UK should withdraw. Another YouGov poll from June 2025 showed similar results, with 51% in favor of staying, 27% for leaving, and 22% unsure. This contrasts with earlier polling; for example, in 2015 the public was more evenly split on the issue, with 41% favoring departure and 38% wishing to remain. By 2016, following the Brexit referendum, the balance had shifted to 42% in favor of remaining and 35% for leaving.
Knowledge of the ECHR
A significant factor in the polling is the public’s self-assessed knowledge of the ECHR. The most recent YouGov survey revealed that only 5% of respondents claimed to know “a great deal” about the convention. Nearly half, at 49%, stated they do not know very much, and 15% admitted to knowing nothing at all. This suggests that while a plurality of Britons oppose leaving the ECHR, a large portion of the electorate is not deeply familiar with the treaty’s specifics. Research has shown that attitudes toward human rights tend to become more positive as knowledge of the subject increases, implying that true support for the ECHR may be even higher than current polls suggest.
Political Divides and Priorities
Support for remaining in or leaving the ECHR varies significantly along party lines. The October 2025 YouGov poll showed that 82% of Labour voters and 76% of Liberal Democrats voters want to remain within the convention. Conversely, 72% of Reform UK voters back withdrawal. Conservative voters are more divided, with 44% supporting withdrawal, while a substantial portion remains opposed or undecided. Even among those who voted Conservative in the last election, there is little appetite for prioritizing ECHR withdrawal. An Amnesty International poll conducted by Savanta found that more than 80% of 2019 Conservative voters do not believe leaving the ECHR should be a top-five priority for the next government.
Voter Priorities
When asked to rank their priorities for the next government, the public consistently places economic issues far ahead of ECHR withdrawal. The Savanta poll found that over 90% of UK adults believe the next government should prioritize other issues. The most frequently cited priorities were tackling the rising cost of living and reducing inflation. In this poll, fewer than one in ten people included leaving the European Convention in their top five priorities. This sentiment is broadly shared across all nations and regions of the UK.
Immigration and Sovereignty
Much of the political argument for leaving the ECHR has centered on its perceived impact on the UK’s ability to control its borders and implement its own laws. Polling shows that the public does believe that withdrawing from the ECHR would have a positive impact in these specific areas. A YouGov poll found that 39% of Britons think leaving the ECHR would have a positive effect on the number of migrants who can be successfully deported, and 41% believe it would have a positive impact on the UK’s control over its own laws. These are the only two areas where a plurality of respondents anticipated a positive outcome from withdrawal. However, even when polls explicitly link the ECHR to issues like deportations, public support for withdrawal has not exceeded 38% since 2014.
The Role of Human Rights
Despite the political focus on immigration, there is strong public support for the underlying principles of the ECHR. The Savanta poll found that 83% of people feel it is important to be able to challenge the government if it violates people’s rights, a key protection offered by the ECHR. Additionally, 44% of adults believe it is a positive thing that the UK is part of an international system that holds all governments to the same human rights standards, with only 9% opposing this idea. This suggests that while the political debate may be narrowly focused, the public still values the fundamental protections and international accountability that the ECHR provides.
Conclusion
Over the last decade, British public opinion has shown a clear, though not overwhelming, preference for remaining a signatory to the European Convention on Human Rights. While there are sharp political divisions on the issue, particularly among voters of different parties, the electorate as a whole does not consider ECHR withdrawal a priority. Instead, domestic economic concerns dominate the public’s agenda for the next government. The data suggests that any political move to leave the ECHR would be contrary to the stated wishes of a plurality of voters and would go against the priorities of a vast majority of the population.