Tory MPs cheer PM for vowing to quit meddling Euro court if it stops boats… while lefty critics fume
TORY MPs today cheered Rishi Sunak’s pledge to leave the ECHR if needed to stop the boats.
But the remarks sparked a row as left-wing critics accused the PM of ripping up the rule of law.
Mr Sunak dropped his strongest signal yet he was prepared to quit the Strasbourg Court if its judges blocked Rwanda flights once again.
He told The Sun’s Never Mind The Ballots telly show: “I believe that border security and controlling illegal migration is more important than our membership of any foreign court.”
His comments were welcomed by some Conservatives who have been calling for a firm commitment to leave the Euro Court.
Danny Kruger, leader of the New Conservative Caucus of 2019 MPs, called it a “very encouraging indication from the PM that we’ll put the primacy of UK law – and the security of our borders – first, even if the ECHR objects.”
Ex-minister Neil O’Brien added: “Encouraging. It’s difficult to see how illegal immigration will be fixed unless we address the ECHR issue.”
Rishi's vow will be music to our readers' ears
Analysis by Ryan Sabey, Deputy Political Editor, The Sun
Rishi had a lot to say: we’re not far off the local elections, not far off the general election.
But I think the most interesting thing that he came out with is the ECHR.
He’s talking about how border security and illegal migration was the most important thing and more important than being a member of any single foreign court.
And I think that will be music to the ears of lots of conservative MPs who have been pushing this over the past few years.
It’s certainly been ramping in the last couple of years since Rishi Sunak has been PM just because they want to get on top of a subject that means a lot to our readers.
A lot of them cast their votes on that.
He is opening the door and paving the way [to leaving the ECHR].
If you’re on the back benches, when you watch his comments and read them, you’ll be thinking this opens the door to a major step change in what he’s thinking.
However Mr Sunak’s words prompted concern among some Labour MPs, with Stella Creasy blasting: “Rather than uphold the rule of law, this prime minister now says he’s happy to dispense with it all together.”
For the first time in his premiership, the PM threatened to end the UK’s 71-year tie to the European Convention of Human Rights.
Pressure is mounting on Mr Sunak to grip the Channel crisis following a surge in arrivals that has already seen more than 5,000 cross from France this year.
After solid progress last year, the current rate is around 43 per cent higher than the same period in 2023 as the Calais smuggling gangs cram ever more people into the dinghies.
The hardline Reform Party is rising in the polls, while frustrated Sun readers bombarded us with questions for the PM about the immigration issue.
Vowing to “get this thing done”, Mr Sunak said: “On this I’ve been very clear. I believe that our scheme – including the Rwanda part of it – is compliant with all our international obligations, including with the ECHR.
“But I believe that border security and controlling illegal migration is more important than our membership of any foreign court.”
When pressed by political editor Harry Cole, the PM said it was “fundamental to our sovereignty as a country” and did not rule out making it an election pledge.
He added: “It’s why I’ve spent so much of my time as Prime Minister talking about it.
“I come from a family of immigrants – and I think this will always be a welcoming, compassionate country – but that has to be done fairly, it has to be done legally.
“We are a people who wait their turn, pay their fair share, play by the rules, and this offends every one of those notions. That’s why it’s so important that we grip it.
“And the choice at the next election is who is more likely to grip this problem. Is it me or is it Keir Starmer?
“I can tell you I will get this thing done for everyone, especially all your Sun readers.”
His remarks will please many Tory MPs who have been calling for Britain to cut ties with the ECHR, which Britain helped found in 1953 but has since faced accusations of failing to adapt to the international migration emergency.
Former Home Secretary Suella Braverman previously called it a “politicised court” that treads on national sovereignty.
Critics fear a repeat of the June 2022 saga when an anonymous Strasbourg judge stopped the first flight to Rwanda from taking off by issuing a grounding order in the dead of night.
Mr Sunak has already vowed to ignore any of these Rule 39 so-called “pyjama injunctions” in the future but until Tuesday was not prepared to leave the court altogether.
Earlier this year ECHR’s chief Siofra O’Leary hit back with a warning member states would be compelled to comply with any of its rulings.
Mr Sunak is hoping to pass the flagship Safety of Rwanda Bill into law when MPs return from the Easter Holidays in two weeks.
Peers in the House of Lords – who have been holding it up until now – are expected to cave.
Mr Sunak remained tight-lipped over whether an airline had been found to fly illegal migrants to the East African country or was planning to use RAF planes.
WHAT IS THE RWANDA MIGRATION PLAN?
What is the Rwanda plan?
Under the plan, anyone who arrives in Britain illegally will be deported to Rwanda, a country in eastern Africa.
The government believes the threat of being removed to Rwanda will deter migrants from making the dangerous Channel crossing in small boats.
Once in Rwanda, their asylum claims will be processed but there is no route back to the UK, save for some exceptional circumstances such as individual safety concerns. Britain will pay for migrants to start a new life in Rwanda.
What’s the hold up?
First announced by Boris Johnson in 2022, the scheme has been bogged down by relentless legal challenges.
The first flight was due to take off in summer 2022, but was blocked on the runway at the last minute by a European Court order.
Since then the legality of the plan has been contested in the courts, culminating in a Supreme Court judgement in November last year which said Rwanda was unsafe for asylum seekers.
What is Sunak doing?
To salvage the Rwanda plan from the Supreme Court’s scathing ruling, Rishi Sunak announced a two-pronged workaround.
First, he would sign a new treaty with Rwanda to beef up protections for asylum seekers that will be enshrined in law.
Second, he would introduce new legislation that would declare Rwanda a safe country.
It would mean courts, police and officials would have to treat it as safe unless there is a risk of individual and irreparable harm.
How long will that take?
The legislation has cleared the Commons but is now being held up in the House of Lords.
Rishi Sunak does not have a majority in the Lords, and peers are far more hostile to the plan.
They will likely send it back to the Commons with amendments watering down the scheme.
Such changes would be unconscionable to MPs who would strip out the measures and send it back.
This “ping-pong” will continue until either side – usually the unelected Lords – gives in and the Bill passes.
When will flights take off?
Mr Sunak wants to get the first flights sent to Rwanda by the spring.
But potential hurdles include more court battles launched by individual migrants or the European Court of Human Rights.
Mr Sunak has vowed to ignore any more orders by Strasbourg judges to ground planes, although individual appeals in domestic courts could prove tricky.
Sir Keir Starmer has said he will scrap the scheme if he is elected PM, even if it is working.