Public attitudes to the ECHR are more nuanced than you might think. A recent poll by YouGov found that 46% of people oppose withdrawal, while 24% aren’t sure. The fact the right has managed to convince the remaining 29% of people their lives would be better off if we ditched a treaty that restrains the British state from murdering, torturing or otherwise abusing them is alarming, of course. But to formulate an effective response, there is no point sneering. Rather, it’s important to understand how and why far-right populists have been able to confect a belief that human rights exist only for the benefit of other, undeserving people.