There are many reasons why this would have been absurd. Although article 58 of the convention allows a state to "denounce" it on six months' notice, that would not release the UK from compliance with the convention before the withdrawal took effect. There would be no guarantee that the UK would be allowed to rejoin the convention in future on its own terms. The denunciation itself could be challenged before the human rights court. And the government would still be required to comply with the Human Rights Act unless that, too, is repealed or amended by parliament.

But there was never any need for that. Once the Jordanians promised not to try Qatada on tainted evidence, he knew another human rights challenge would fail. However irritated ministers may be with him, his case provides no justification for abandoning fundamental legal principles to which the UK has long been committed.