Former Tory Party Chairman Nadhim Zahawi became embroiled in a tense debate with GB News presenter Nigel Farage over whether the UK’s future lies in the ECHR (European Court of Human Rights).
The issue has proven contentious since the European court opted to block the first flight to deport illegal migrants to Rwanda last June.
One unnamed ECHR judge stepped in with a rule 39 interim injunction.
The Government was forced to delay any flights until the Rwanda scheme’s legality had been determined in the UK courts.
Nigel Farage clashed with Zahawi over the ECHR
GB NEWS
The Supreme Court is preparing a three-day hearing on October 9, with a ruling set for November.
Former Brexit Party leader Nigel Farage is an outspoken critic of the European court, and has demanded the UK’s withdrawal.
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Zahawi, citing concerns over what such a move could mean for human rights law, believes a more conservative approach should be taken, asserting the UK would be better off attempting to reform from within.
“I would much rather see us reform”, he said.
“This is a problem for pretty much every major economy in the world.
“We’re in a world now of mass migration, mass movement of humanity. It’s a problem for all of us. Why is it we can reform our own legislation to modernise it, but we can’t touch this?”
Nigel Farage is adamant the UK should leave the ECHR
GB NewsFarage snapped back, saying “that’s exactly what Labour will say next week”.
He said: “Here’s the point, most people who vote are busy. They have jobs, mortgages, a Labrador, two or three kids, they’re busy living their lives.
“You look back on great political leaders, Thatcher was one, the lady not for turning, you knew where he stood.
“Blair, education, education, these big, stand out messages.
Nigel Farage spoke to Nadhim Zahawi on GB News
GB NEWS
“To tell me that Rishi is going to give us good long term messages, to say he is going to reform the ECHR, no one believes it.”
Zahawi argued that he expects Rishi Sunak to stop illegal Channel crossings as migrants continue to make the perilous journey to reach British shores, regardless of the country’s ECHR status.
“Nothing is off the table”, he said.
“He will stop the boats, I am confident of that. He will make sure the economy grows.
“You’re seeing Rishi Sunak at his best when he says ‘of course I have to deliver net zero by 2050, but I’m not going to do it by lying to you’.
“More of Rishi behaving like an engineer would. He needs to focus on outcomes. I think that will play well.”
Farage went on to question Zahawi over whether he believes Sunak will be able to defy the polls, despite them providing a predominantly dispiriting outlook for the Conservatives.
“I absolutely believe so”, he said. “If you look at all the research, there isn’t a single policy that the voters agree with Starmer for.
“They’re just annoyed with us. We’ve had a tough year, there’s no doubt about that.
“Keir Starmer is no Tony Blair, and people will start to think at least Rishi tells us the truth and he fixes stuff.
“That will bode well.”
