The prime minister is seeking to change the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) so that it no longer serves as an automatic last resort for criminals, including foreigners awaiting deportation.

The proposal has been attacked by Labour who believe the prime minister may be paving the way to "walk away" from the court. “Once in a generation, each member has the honour of leading the Council of Europe.

The prime minister said, I want to speak about the once-in-a-generation chance we have, together, to improve the way we enhance the cause of human rights, freedom and dignity"... When the UK was unable to deport terror suspects despite painstaking efforts that they will not face torture on return to their homelands, it was 'not surprising that some people start asking questions about whether the current arrangements are really sensible'.

Controversial rulings have 'a corrosive effect on people's support for human rights and provoke anxiety that the concept itself is being 'distorted', warned Mr Cameron. When the UK was unable to deport terror suspects despite painstaking efforts that they will not face torture on return to their homelands, it was 'not surprising that some people start asking questions about whether the current arrangements are really sensible'.

Controversial rulings have 'a corrosive effect on people's support for human rights' and provoke anxiety that the concept itself is being 'distorted', warned Mr Cameron.

However, Mr Cameron is under pressure from backbench MPs in his own party to claw back power from Europe. British officials are trying to push through changes while the UK holds the chair of the Council of Europe over six months until May this year.

It wants to address the backlog of 150,000 cases that have built up, with more than half of these against Russia, Turkey, Italy and Romania. Only eight cases against the UK - or less than one per cent of all decisions - were successful last year.