Boldness, Caution, Avoidance: Recent Cases Against the UK Before the European Court of Human Rights

Strasbourg has faced considerable hostility from United Kingdom (UK) authorities in recent years. But what has been the response of the European Court of Human Rights? Has this criticism resulted in capitulation, backlash, or business as usual? This article offers an empirical assessment of all applications against the UK dealt with by the European Court of Human Rights since 2020. It considers the available quantitative data and broad numbers relating to relevant cases in this period, before examining the substance of its judgments and decisions in greater depth. It describes the areas in which Strasbourg's approach has been bold, and those areas in which its output is characterised by caution or even avoidance. The picture which emerges is therefore not a straightforward one. However, one notable and important change which emerges from the data seems to be the speed with which applications against the UK are dealt with.