Andrew Boff Quits Conservative Party After 53 Years Over ECHR 2026

Andrew Boff, chair of the London Assembly, has resigned from the Conservative Party after 53 years of membership, citing Kemi Badenoch's hardline position on the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR) as the final straw. The move has sparked debate about the party's direction and the cost of ideological purity.

Boff, one of the capital's longest-serving Conservative politicians, was blocked from entering the race to be the Tory candidate for London mayor because he supports the ECHR. His departure highlights the growing rift between moderates and the party's rightward shift under Badenoch's leadership.

Why Andrew Boff Quit the Conservative Party

Boff's resignation came after he was summoned and told he was barred from entering the race for London mayor—a position he had applied for seven times. The reason: his support for the ECHR puts him at odds with Badenoch's edict that rebels who don't agree with leaving the ECHR "should not and cannot stand as a Conservative candidate."

In a statement, Boff pointed to Winston Churchill's role in founding the ECHR after World War II, arguing it "was never a leftwing project" but a "safeguard against arbitrary government." He also noted that the convention protects British citizens abroad and is essential for international cooperation.

Badenoch has also barred anyone supporting net zero from standing as a Conservative candidate, further narrowing the party's ideological tent. This combination of litmus tests has alienated long-standing members like Boff who hold moderate views.

The Reaction from Fellow Conservatives

Messages of support for Boff poured in from fellow Tories, but most were sent privately. Gavin Barwell, Theresa May's former Downing Street chief of staff, publicly backed Boff and warned Badenoch that others would follow him over the ECHR edict.

However, the rest of the party's dissenters stayed silent, afraid to reveal themselves under a leadership that doesn't tolerate dissent. This climate of fear is a telling sign of the party's current state.

• Boff's resignation is the first public defection over the ECHR policy, but more may follow.
• Support from Gavin Barwell signals deep unease among moderates.
• Badenoch's leadership style discourages open debate, pushing dissent underground.
• The ECHR is historically a Conservative legacy, not a leftwing cause.
• Blocking candidates over single issues narrows the party's appeal in diverse cities like London.

The ECHR: A Conservative Legacy Under Attack

The ECHR was drafted with significant British input, including from Churchill, and the UK was the first country to ratify it. For decades, it has been a cornerstone of human rights protection in Europe, and leaving it would have profound implications for UK citizens.

Boff argues that the convention is not a leftwing project but a safeguard against arbitrary government. By framing it as a leftwing issue, Badenoch is ignoring the historical role Conservatives played in its creation.

Critics of the ECHR often point to cases where the European Court of Human Rights has overruled UK courts, but supporters argue that the convention provides essential protections and that leaving it would damage the UK's international standing.

What This Means for the Conservative Party

Boff's resignation is a symptom of a broader problem: the Conservative Party is narrowing its ideological base at a time when it needs to broaden its appeal. By barring candidates who support the ECHR or net zero, the leadership is alienating moderates and swing voters in key areas.

In London, where the Conservatives have struggled in recent elections, blocking a candidate like Boff—who has deep roots in the capital—could further hurt the party's chances. The mayor's race is a high-profile contest, and the party's candidate will need to appeal to a diverse electorate.

Nationally, the party faces a general election within the next two years. If it continues to purge moderates, it risks losing centrist voters to the Liberal Democrats and Labour.

The Courage to Speak Out

Boff's decision to resign publicly is an act of political courage. Many of his colleagues agree with him but lack the bravery to speak out. As Barwell warned, others may follow Boff's example if the leadership doesn't change course. The background to this story is set out in Kemi Badenoch Conservative Conference Return Sparks Party Revival. A related thread runs through Conservative Party Conference 2025: Upbeat Mood Masks Poor Polling. Earlier coverage in Kemi Badenoch: The Most Rightwing Tory Leader in History shows how the argument developed.

For the Conservative Party to remain relevant, it must tolerate a range of views on issues like the ECHR and net zero. Purges may satisfy the base in the short term, but they weaken the party's long-term electoral prospects. A closer look at the same subject appears in Conservative Conference: A Party Still Searching for Purpose. Anyone following the wider picture can start with Kemi Badenoch Conservative Party Purge Moderation Common Sense. The same theme surfaces in UK Conservative Party Civil War: A Charade of Unity Explained, which takes a different angle.

Boff's resignation should serve as a wake-up call. The party's strength has always been its ability to adapt and include diverse perspectives. By enforcing rigid ideological tests, Badenoch risks turning the Conservatives into a narrow sect rather than a broad coalition. Context on how this played out before sits in Kemi Badenoch and the 'Keminaissance': A Conservative Revival. A companion piece, Kemi Badenoch and the Nasty Party: A Political Analysis, approaches the same subject from another angle.