Mark Francois of the Conservative Party discusses the potential for renegotiating the UK’s commitment to the ECHR, sparking internal debate within the party. The proposal aligns with the party’s aim to reclaim sovereignty over migrant deportations amidst a backdrop of conflicting views on national security and human rights.
On Tuesday, May 14, 2024, Conservative Party member Mark Francois asserted that both right-wing and centrist factions of the party might agree on renegotiating the UK’s role in the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR). This discussion came in the wake of a court ruling that halted parts of Prime Minister Rishi Sunak’s Rwanda migration policy in Northern Ireland due to ECHR compatibility issues.
Francois argued on GB News that members from the party’s One Nation group are willing to support a manifesto promise to renegotiate the UK’s commitment to the ECHR. He highlighted that significant reforms would be sought, and failure in achieving these could lead to the UK exiting the treaty.
This potential policy shift surfaces amidst disagreements within the Conservative Party similar to past divisions over Brexit. The proposed policy advocates for reclaiming sovereignty over migrant deportations and aligns with broader European trends where various EU countries are considering external migration control measures akin to the UK’s Rwanda plan.
Furthermore, despite the Northern Ireland court ruling, Sunak emphasized that this would not affect the forthcoming plans to deport illegal migrants to Rwanda, marking a contentious stance on fulfilling national security priorities over international human rights obligations.