Nigel Farage has dramatically escalated his campaign for Britain to sever ties with the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR), creating a major headache for Prime Minister Rishi Sunak as Conservative ministers openly clash over the issue.
The Reform UK honorary president declared that leaving the ECHR should be a "fundamental" proposition in the Tory election manifesto, arguing it's essential for Britain to regain control of its borders. His intervention comes amid growing Conservative divisions on the matter.
Ministerial Discord Exposed
While immigration minister Robert Jenrick has publicly advocated for ECHR withdrawal, policing minister Chris Philp struck a notably different tone. Speaking to Times Radio, Philp stated the government's current focus remains on "stopping the boats" through the Rwanda partnership and the Illegal Migration Act.
"We think we can meet our objectives, particularly on stopping the boats, within the ECHR," Philp asserted, directly contradicting his colleague's position and exposing the deep rift within government ranks.
Farage's Ultimatum to Sunak
The former UKIP leader didn't mince words in his challenge to the Prime Minister. "If the Conservative party want to be competitive at the next election, they have to come out of the ECHR," Farage declared on social media platform X.
He framed the issue as a matter of national sovereignty, arguing that European judges in Strasbourg shouldn't have the final say over British border controls. His comments reflect growing frustration among right-wing Conservatives about small boat crossings and legal challenges to deportation flights.
Legal Battles and Political Fallout
The Supreme Court recently dealt a blow to the government's Rwanda asylum plan, ruling it unlawful and raising questions about whether leaving the ECHR would provide the legal certainty ministers seek.
With the Tory party increasingly divided between moderate and right-wing factions over human rights legislation, Farage's intervention threatens to further destabilise Sunak's authority ahead of a crucial election year.
As the Conservative civil war over human rights intensifies, all eyes remain on whether the Prime Minister will bow to pressure from his party's right flank or maintain the current position of working within the European convention.
