Rishi Sunak has refused to be drawn on whether he will fight the general election on withdrawal from the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR), telling critics to "wait for the manifesto".
The PM has previously said that controlling illegal migration is "more important" than membership of the ECHR, saying he would not let a "foreign court" interfere with a policy that is "fundamental to our sovereignty".
But Sunak has drawn criticism for not pulling out of the convention - not least from former Home Secretary Suella Braverman, who claimed last month that the current Government hasn't "laid the groundwork" to quit the ECHR.
And Braverman also counselled against including any kind of withdrawal plan in a manifesto.
The PM has played coy on ECHR membership with the election looming
PA
She said: "It should be noted that any attempt to include a plan for ECHR withdrawal in a losing Conservative Party election manifesto risks setting the cause back a generation."
The UK's membership of the treaty, as enforced by the Strasbourg-based Council of Europe, has hung over the Conservative Government's Rwanda plan since its inception.
But just yesterday, Sunak admitted the first flights to the country would not take off after the election - and Labour have pledged to scrap the scheme, meaning flights may never get off the ground.
Though the PM said: "If I’m re-elected as Prime Minister, on July 5, these flights will go, we will get our Rwanda scheme up and running."
MORE ON RWANDA AND THE ECHR:
Starmer's Labour have pledged to scrap the scheme, meaning flights may never get off the ground
PAConvention membership isn't the only manifesto pledge the PM has refused to be drawn on; asked whether he will bring it the smoking ban if he wins the election, he said: "Let’s not get ahead of ourselves - there will be a manifesto.
"With regard to the 'smoke-free generation'... Of course I would have liked to have got that done in this session, but given where we are, you can’t get everything done in the time we’ve got available.
"I’m still of course very committed to the policy. All I’d just say is that’s an example of me taking bold action as Prime Minister. I’ve said very clearly that we’re living in a very uncertain time.
"That requires someone who is prepared to take bold action, stick to a clear plan to deliver a secure future. The smoke free generation is an example of a bold policy that I’ve brought forward."
But the PM has been firm on taxes, taking aim at what he claims would be a £2,000 tax jump if Labour were elected.
Sunak said: "I fundamentally believe in a country where hard work is rewarded, where taxes are cut. We’re cutting people’s taxes - that’s what you can expect from a Conservative Government, always.
"The contrast at the election is clear - we’ve gone through the numbers... That’s a £2,000 tax rise for every working family in Britain.
"That’s the choice at this election, a Conservative Government that’s cutting your taxes, or a Labour Party that has £2,000 of tax rises coming your way.”
“I want to deliver security for people, that’s our plan and that plan is working."
