Rishi Sunak is considering siding with his Home Secretary Suella Braverman to end European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) jurisdiction in the UK to address the migrant crisis.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Prime Minister is considering withdrawing from the European Convention of Human Rights (ECHR) to prevent foreign judges in a Strasbourg court from vetoing British laws, sparking a Tory civil war.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Many on the right of the party have welcomed the proposal, believing it will allow the UK to finally end the migrant crisis, but liberal Conservatives have threatened to rebel.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Suella Braverman agreed to become Home Secretary on the condition that she could “do whatever was necessary” to address the illegal migration crisis, which saw 45,000 people cross the Channel on small boats last year.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
As a former Attorney General, she has advocated for the end of the European Court of Human Rights’ jurisdiction in Strasbourg, particularly after an unqualified judge blocked the policy of deporting illegal migrants to Rwanda.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Tories on the party’s left, however, have reacted angrily to the suggestion.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In one Whatsapp group, Thurrock MP Jackie Doyle-Price, a former civil servant, reportedly told colleagues that the government should stop “willy waving”.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
She added that if it wants to pick a fight with the ECHR, \u201cit can do it without me.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
“I have been a member of the Conservative Party for 36 years. This group leaves me cold. Upholding the law should never be a matter for debate for a Conservative. Our Home Office is crap. If the government wants to have a phone[y] war over the ECHR instead of sorting itself out, it can do it without me,” she said in a message to Tory MPs in the Home Group.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
“The ECHR is not the issue here,” said Ruislip MP David Simmonds, “and by pretending it is, we are setting ourselves up for a fall because a UK court will take the same line.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Alicia Kearns, chairwoman of the Foreign Affairs select Committee, added: “We cannot tackle asylum claims when we haven\u2019t given ourselves the legal grounding on coming here illegally.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Southend West MP Anna Firth said Doyle-Price was “right on the money” when it came to the ECHR “rabbit hole.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Members of the Common Sense Group and many Brexit supporters, however, have welcomed the move, believing that Brexit cannot be completed until the UK withdraws from the ECHR.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
“Let’s hope he [the Prime Minister] is brave enough to do so,” said Stoke North MP Jonathan Gullis, who has proposed legislation to allow the government to ignore ECHR decisions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
“The main thing for me is to stop the boats,” Bassetlaw MP Brendan Clarke-Smith said. “If they can do that without leaving the ECHR, fine, but if not, it needs to be done regardless. We also can’t afford to sit around waiting for courts and endless appeals.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Another Red Wall MP who strongly supported leaving the ECHR admitted to being a “doubting Thomas” about Mr Sunak’s willingness to make the necessary changes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Meanwhile, members of the influential rightwing Common Sense Group have been negotiating with the government to introduce the Immigration Bill, which would allow for the rapid deportation of illegal immigrants.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Bill is expected to be published this week, ahead of the next week’s recess.<\/p>\n\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Rishi Sunak is considering siding with his Home Secretary Suella Braverman to end European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) jurisdiction in the UK to address the migrant crisis. The Prime … <\/p>\n