Sunak under pressure to ditch ECHR as MPs demand  'drastic measures' on migration

Rishi Sunak

Rishi Sunak is under mounting pressure to ditch the European Convention on Human Rights

PA
Millie Cooke

By Millie Cooke


Published: 12/09/2023

- 17:47

Conservative MP for Mansfield Ben Bradley warned that stopping the boats is "not optional"

Rishi Sunak is under mounting pressure to ditch the European Convention on Human Rights, as fury over the Government's handling of the migrant crisis grows.

Many Tory MPs see the treaty as blocking the UK from controlling its borders fully.


The issue of migration is growing by the day, with the latest Immigration Attitudes Tracker showing that two-thirds of people across the UK are dissatisfied with the way the Government has been handling the issue.

Conservative MP for Mansfield Ben Bradley told GB News that it is "the most common issue" raised by his constituents.

Small boats


The issue of migration is growing by the day with the latest Immigration Attitudes Tracker showing that two-thirds of people across the UK are dissatisfied

PA

He urged the Government to leave the ECHR if it means small boats will stop coming to the UK.

While Bradley acknowledged that the issue is legally "complex", he said: "Long story short, we promised that we'd stop the boats. They've not stopped. We will all be judged on whether or not we deliver that outcome."

He continued: "It's a fundamental matter of fairness, for me, for British citizens who work and pay into the system, and who see their efforts going to fund illegal economic migrants with no right to be in the UK.

"We have to stop it quickly because Lord knows if Labour get in then it will never be resolved."

Asked whether or not the UK should leave the ECHR, Bradley said the Government needs to "try more drastic measures".

He explained: "I think that the steps we're taking now haven't been effective yet, and if that's not going to work we need to try more drastic measures.

"This isn't optional. My constituents are much more concerned about the fairness and sustainability of our domestic situation than they are about Britain's 'reputation' or adherence to rules set by other people.

"If we need to leave the ECHR to stop the boats, then let's leave the ECHR."

Just last week, Immigration Minister Robert Jenrick described the treaty as "out of date" with the current crisis facing Europe.

Meanwhile, Veteran Conservative MPs Sir Bill Cash and David Jones demanded the Government go further in opposing the treaty in order to solve the mounting migrant crisis.

Jones demanded the Government renegotiate the terms of the ECHR with the Council of Europe, saying it is "quite clearly not protecting our borders, nor is it protecting the borders of many other countries across Europe."

Cash agreed, saying changes must be made. But he stopped short of demanding he Government withdraw from the treaty altogether.

\u200b Immigration Minister Robert Jenrick

Immigration Minister Robert Jenrick described the treaty as "out of date" with the current crisis facing Europe

PA

A source close to the eurosceptic European Research Group told GB News that there is "no other way" to solve the issue.

While they didn't advocate scrapping the ECHR altogether, as it would "spook" left-wing Tories, they urged the Government to put a clause into the Nationality and Borders Bill which would stop the ECHR from applying.

The latest Immigration Attitudes Tracker shows that dissatisfaction is at its highest level since the survey began in 2015, jumping from a low of 41 per cent in 2020.

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