Kemi Badenoch opened the door yesterday to imposing US-style travel bans – as she warned Britain is being ‘mugged’ by migrants.
The Tory leader stated that there are potential situations where the UK might have to stop arrivals from entire states, stressing that human rights laws should not hinder governments from taking such actions.
US President Donald Trump recently triggered a strong backlash from human rights organizations for imposing a ban on arrivals from 12 countries, citing reasons of national security. Among the affected nations were Iran, Libya, Afghanistan, and Somalia. Amnesty International strongly criticized the ban, labeling it as ‘discriminatory, racist and outright cruel’.
Although Mrs. Badenoch did not explicitly support President Trump’s decisions, she expressed her belief that Britain should have the authority to implement similar restrictions if necessary. She emphasized the importance of Parliament being able to determine the entry, duration of stay, and exit of individuals from the country, which may include imposing travel bans. While acknowledging the complexity of implementing country-specific bans, she suggested that there could be situations where it may be considered feasible.
Her comments came as she took a decisive step towards backing withdrawal from the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR). In a speech at the Royal United Services Institute in London, she warned human rights laws were being ‘weaponised’ to stifle action on everything from immigration and crime to housing and the environment.
She dismissed suggestions from Council of Europe chief Alain Berset that he was ready to ‘adapt’ elements of the ECHR in the wake of concern about its impact on efforts to control immigration.
She said reform of the ECHR, backed by some Tory MPs, was ‘a lost cause’, and noted that Mr Berset had warned changing the treaty would be ‘complicated’.
‘That’s what someone says when they are telling you: ‘Well, you can try your luck, but nothing is going to change’,’ said Mrs Badenoch, who announced the creation of a commission to examine the practicalities of leaving the ECHR.
Kemi Badenoch (above) opened the door yesterday to imposing US-style travel bans – as she warned Britain is being ‘mugged’ by migrants
US President Donald Trump (above) faced a furious backlash from human rights groups this week after citing national security grounds to ban all arrivals from 12 countries, including Iran, Libya, Afghanistan and Somalia
Ms Badenoch dismissed suggestions from Council of Europe chief Alain Berset that he was ready to ‘adapt’ elements of the ECHR in the wake of concern about its impact on efforts to control immigration (Pictured: Migrants crossing the English Channel in March 2024)
She said the ECHR ‘should be a shield to protect’ but has become a ‘sword used to attack democratic decisions and common sense’, adding: ‘This use of litigation as a political weapon is what I am calling lawfare.’
The new commission, led by Tory barrister Lord Wolfson, will also examine whether changes are needed to other treaties and laws, including the 1951 UN Refugee Convention, the Equality Act and the Climate Change Act.
Mrs Badenoch committed the Tories to new laws that would bar illegal migrants from ever claiming asylum in the UK. And she confirmed she is looking at options for a Rwanda-style scheme which would see those crossing the Channel illegally deported immediately, breaking the link between boarding a dinghy in France and building a new life in the UK.
She said Britain had ‘lost control’ of the asylum system, adding: ‘Hundreds of thousands of people have come here claiming to be refugees… almost all passing through neighbouring countries which are perfectly safe.
‘Tens of thousands of them will receive taxpayer-funded legal aid, which is spent on lawyers competing to devise ever more ingenious legal arguments to keep them in the country.’ She said the UK ‘cannot be the world’s softest touch’, adding: ‘In some years, our approval rate for asylum applications was above 80 per cent. Last year, Japan’s was 2 per cent.
‘Britain is being mugged. Our asylum system… will require a fundamental rebuild, so that the British Government, not people traffickers, control it.’
She said reforms would also put an end to veterans who served in Northern Ireland being ‘repeatedly harassed through the courts while terrorists walk free’.
…as France is set to ask us for even MORE cash to intercept small boats
By Jason Groves, Political Editor
France is poised to demand millions of pounds in extra cash from Britain to help intercept Channel migrants.
Ministers in Paris are close to agreeing a deal to finally lift the French ban on halting migrant boats in shallow water.
The move has been a key request from London where ministers have been infuriated by TV footage showing French officials standing by as dinghies packed with illegal migrants take to the water.
But French sources said president Emmanuel Macron is ready to table a fresh demand for cash to help fund the extra enforcement activity that will follow. Paris is looking for help in paying for extra patrols and for new drones to monitor hundreds of miles of coastline. Officials will warn that intercepting boats in the water will place French police at greater risk of attacks.
Britain has paid France £800 million since 2015 to help police the Channel but the numbers of people arriving on UK shores has continued to rise.
So far this year almost 15,000 people have arrived in the UK in small boats – up 42 per cent on the same period last year.
French sources said president Emmanuel Macron (left) is ready to table a fresh demand for cash from Britain to help intercept Channel migrants
French police (above) stood back and watched as entire families packed themselves into an overcrowded small boat heading across the Channel to the UK last week
Almost 1,200 migrants arrived on a single day last Saturday. One British official said it had been ‘incredibly frustrating’ to see footage of French police standing by as migrants waded into the water to board dinghies bound for Britain.
Home Secretary Yvette Cooper this week said it was ‘completely unacceptable’ that such a large number of migrants had been able to leave French shores on a single day, and highlighted the problems caused by restrictions on tackling boats in the water.
Under current French law, police are banned from intercepting boats in the water on safety grounds. Under the new proposals, the authorities will be allowed to intercept boats in shallow water up to 300 metres from the shore.
British officials believe the move could have a ‘significant impact’ on the crisis.
