It is just as possible that France and Spain are lax in their application of human rights legislation as it is that the UK is overzealous. You have only attacked an outcome that you don’t like, and not given any of the argument that leads up to your - for want of a better word - conclusion. If his choice had been return to, say, a warzone, I’d hope you’d concede that deporting him would be wrong. Then again, I’d hope that removing someone from their family and support group (which are important in preventing re-offending) to a country where he is more likely to be isolated, given that he speaks no Italian, would be a bit of a no-brainer.

The ’signing away our sovereignty’ argument is fallacious. Firstly, we can withdraw at any time. Secondly, we can derogate, so the argument about not being able to use a nuclear option doesn’t apply. Thirdly, the Washington Treaty was signed the year before the ECHR (1949 as opposed to 1950) and has far more wide-ranging sovereignty issues.

Nevertheless, I would not be so quick to sneer at the HRA critics in any event. Funny how France and Spain are also signed up to the ECHR and don’t appear to share our angst re the rights of murderers and other crims.