Helen Grant, MP for Maidstone and Malling, Shadow Solicitor General, has today been appointed to co-lead a major new Conservative Party Policy Commission on sovereignty and legal reform. The Commission, which she will lead alongside Lord Wolfson KC, the Shadow Attorney General, will explore the UK’s future relationship with the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR) and wider issues of judicial overreach.
This high-powered task force, backed by a team of the country’s sharpest legal minds, has been asked to rigorously test whether the UK remains a truly sovereign nation or whether foreign courts are now the final arbiters of British law.
Speaking today, Helen Grant MP said:
“This Commission is about protecting what matters most—our borders, our justice system, our democracy, and our sovereignty. For too long, vital reforms backed by the British public have been blocked or watered down by foreign courts. We’ll examine the facts, test the law, and deliver a clear, workable plan by Party Conference.”
The Commission will be guided by five core tests:
1. The Deportation Test – Can we remove illegal migrants and foreign criminals without delay or obstruction?
2. The Veterans Test – Can we stop vexatious legal claims against our armed forces?
3. The Fairness Test – Can we prioritise British citizens for housing and public services?
4. The Justice Test – Can we make sure that prison sentences actually reflect Parliament’s intentions?
5. The Prosperity Test – Can we stop vital infrastructure projects being paralyzed by endless legal action?
The announcement comes as illegal immigration reaches record highs, with over 36,000 small boat crossings since Labour took office. The National Audit Office now estimates asylum accommodation will cost taxpayers over £15 billion—triple original projections.
The Commission will report its findings at the Conservative Party Conference later this year.
