Veteran London Politician Andrew Boff Resigns From Conservative Party After 53 Years Over ECHR Stance

Key Points

• Resignation After Half a Century: Veteran politician Andrew Boff, one of London’s longest-serving Conservative figures, has resigned from the Conservative Party after 53 years of membership.
• Mayoral Race Blockade: Boff stated he was blocked from entering the selection race to become the Conservative candidate for Mayor of London because of his support for the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR).
• Leadership Mandate Enforced: The decision aligns with policy laid out by Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch, who publicly stated in October 2025 that individuals opposing withdrawal from the ECHR “should not and cannot stand as a Conservative candidate”.
• Shift to Independent Status: Joining the Young Conservatives in 1973 and serving as a London Assembly member since 2008, Boff confirmed he will complete his term as an independent London-wide Assembly Member.
• Ideological Clash: Boff accused the party of abandoning its foundational principles, arguing that British Conservatives including Winston Churchill helped create the ECHR post-World War Two as a crucial safeguard against arbitrary state power.

London (The Londoner News) October 20, 2026 – Long-serving London Assembly Member Andrew Boff has formally resigned from the Conservative Party after 53 years, citing his disqualification from the London mayoral selection process over his support for the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR). Boff, who joined the party in 1973 and has served on the London Assembly since 2008, confirmed he was prevented from putting his name forward for the mayoral candidacy. He will now sit at City Hall as an independent London-wide member, declaring that the Conservative Party has abandoned its core principles regarding fundamental rights and judicial safeguards.

Why Was Andrew Boff Blocked From Running as the Conservative London Mayoral Candidate?

The immediate catalyst for Andrew Boff’s resignation was his exclusion from the candidate selection process for the upcoming London mayoral election due to his refusal to back leaving the European Convention on Human Rights.

As reported by political coverage across UK media, Andrew Boff disclosed that he was blocked from entering the race because of his firm stance in favor of retaining the international human rights framework. Boff described the party’s decision as “extraordinary and profoundly disappointing.”

The selection rule reflects the broader policy directive established by Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch.

As reported by GB News, Kemi Badenoch stated during an interview in October 2025 that anyone who did not agree with leaving the ECHR:

“should not and cannot stand as a Conservative candidate.”

Responding to Boff’s resignation on behalf of the City Hall Conservatives, Susan Hall stated that she “deeply regrets” his departure from the assembly group. However, Hall affirmed that the local party stands resolutely by the national party’s commitment to withdrawing from the treaty.

As reported by City Hall press releases, Susan Hall praised her former colleague’s decades of service:

“Andrew has been a forthright and vocal supporter of Conservative principles, and we thank him for his contribution to our party.”

What Did Andrew Boff Say Regarding Conservative Principles and Human Rights?

In an extensive farewell statement, Andrew Boff mounted a passionate defense of the ECHR, rejecting claims that international human rights treaties are incompatible with conservatism.

Andrew Boff emphasized the historical heritage of the convention, stating:

“The convention was not a ‘left-wing project’ but a ‘safeguard against arbitrary government’.”

He reminded party members that prominent British Conservatives, including former Prime Minister Winston Churchill, played a central role in establishing the framework following the end of World War Two.

Boff argued that individual liberties in the United Kingdom must not be subject to temporary parliamentary majorities, particularly within a governance framework lacking a codified constitution where executive governments can exercise sweeping power based on a minority of the popular vote.

As reported by local political reporters, Andrew Boff stated:

“These are Conservative values, or at least they were the values of the Conservative Party I joined.”

Addressing the internal party decision to bar pro-ECHR candidates, Boff drew a distinct line between political debate and ideological exclusion.

Andrew Boff stated:

“A political party that cannot tolerate support for fundamental human rights has moved a very long way from the principles that first attracted me to it.”

He added:

“I have not abandoned my Conservative principles. I believe the party has abandoned some of its own. I will not surrender those principles in order to remain a member of any political party.”

How Does the European Convention on Human Rights Function Within UK Law?

The debate surrounding the ECHR remains a central constitutional issue within British politics. Drafted by the Council of Europe in the aftermath of World War Two, the ECHR is completely distinct from the European Union (EU) and operates independently of Brexit statutory changes.

The treaty guarantees fundamental protections across signatory states, including:

• Core Freedoms: The right to life, liberty, a fair trial, and freedom of expression and assembly.
• Protection from Abuse: Absolute prohibitions against torture, slavery, and degrading treatment.
• Family Protections: The right to respect for private and family life.

Legal appeals under the convention are adjudicated by the European Court of Human Rights located in Strasbourg, France. Following the passage of the Human Rights Act 1998 under the Blair government, UK domestic courts gained the authority to apply convention rights directly within domestic legal proceedings.

Currently, the only European nations operating outside the ECHR treaty framework are Russia, which was formally expelled following its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, and Belarus.

What Is the Background of Andrew Boff’s Political Career and the ECHR Debate?

Andrew Boff’s political career in London spans more than five decades. He joined the Young Conservatives in 1973 and served as leader of Hillingdon London Borough Council in the early 1990s before gaining election to the London Assembly in 2008. Over his 18 years at City Hall, Boff served in multiple key roles, including Chair of the London Assembly and leader of the GLA Conservative Group. Known for his independent-minded approach on social issues, urban planning, and housing reform, Boff had previously sought the Conservative nomination for Mayor of London on multiple occasions.

Concurrently, opposition to the ECHR has increasingly defined mainstream Conservative policy in the UK. Critics within the party argue that rulings from the Strasbourg court restrict parliamentary sovereignty and hinder government policy regarding illegal immigration, deportation orders, and border control. Proponents of the treaty, including moderate Conservatives like Boff, contend that the ECHR serves as a vital legal shield protecting citizens from state overreach and forms a core element of Britain’s post-war international legal legacy.

How Will This Development Affect London Politics and the Conservative Party?

The resignation of a veteran figure like Andrew Boff carries immediate implications for City Hall politics, party unity, and upcoming elections:

• For the London Assembly and City Hall Dynamics: Boff’s shift to independent status reduces the formal voting strength of the GLA Conservative Group, altering committee allocations and providing an independent, pro-human-rights conservative voice during assembly debates and mayoral scrutinies.
• For the Conservative Party’s Ideological Landscape: Enforcing strict ECHR litmus tests for candidate selection highlights a firm ideological shift under Kemi Badenoch’s leadership, potentially alienating moderate, one-nation Conservatives while consolidating support among anti-ECHR factions.
• For London Voters and the Mayoral Race: The exclusion of pro-ECHR candidates narrows the ideological spectrum of Conservative mayoral hopefuls, presenting London voters—who historically lean more liberal on social and constitutional issues—with a distinctly right-leaning candidate platform focused on leaving international treaties.