Suella Braverman has signalled her desire to leave the European court of human rights (ECHR), as she warned that the treaties governing the treatment of migrants were not “fit for purpose in an age of jet travel and smartphones”.
The home secretary was speaking last night ahead of a visit to her counterparts in the US, where she will make a speech setting out what she sees as the challenges created by global migration – including small boats across the Channel.
“Illegal migration and the unprecedented mass movement of people across the globe is placing unsustainable pressures on America, the UK, and Europe,” she said. “We must come together and ask whether the international conventions and legal frameworks designed 50-plus years ago are fit for purpose in an age of jet travel and smartphones.
“I’m going to Washington to discuss this crisis with our American counterparts. If we fail to meet these challenges, then our political institutions risk losing their democratic legitimacy.”
It will concern figures on the liberal wing of the Tory party, who have made staying within the ECHR one of their key demands. There have been warnings that leaving would mean the Tories would be seen as the “nasty party” once again.
Braverman has previously made clear that she will do “whatever it takes” to send asylum seekers to Rwanda – a plan that has been blocked by the courts. Her trip and speech in the US will be seen as further evidence in the Tory party that she is positioning herself as a potential leadership candidate for the right should the Conservatives lose the next election.
Enver Solomon, chief executive of the Refugee Council, warned that attacks on the ECHR went against Britain’s historic support for such treaties. “Our nation has long demonstrated a deep commitment to providing sanctuary to those fleeing persecution and conflict,” he said.
“This proud legacy is a testament to our values of compassion, empathy and solidarity. Abandoning these principles is not an option; we must stand firm in our commitment to refugees and to the international frameworks that were created to protect them.
“What we need is a fair process for people who come here in search of safety and protection. Instead of threatening to abandon the frameworks and conventions that protect refugees’ rights, we should be addressing the real issues in the asylum system, such as the record backlog, and providing safe routes for those in need of protection, including refugee visas, resettlement and family reunion schemes.”
