Jenrick Warns Tories: ECHR Exit or Party Demise in Leadership Race

Robert Jenrick, frontrunner in the Conservative Party leadership race, is set to deliver a stark warning to his party. In a speech scheduled for Monday at the Tory conference in Birmingham, Jenrick will argue that the party must propose withdrawing from the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR) or face extinction.

The ECHR, established in 1950 and ratified by the UK in 1951, has become a contentious issue in British politics. Originally shaped with input from Winston Churchill, the convention has recently been at the center of debates surrounding the Channel migrant crisis and the UK's ability to manage immigration.

Jenrick's position marks a significant escalation in the ongoing leadership contest. His rivals, Kemi Badenoch, James Cleverly, and Tom Tugendhat, have not explicitly called for leaving the ECHR, instead advocating for systemic reforms to the UK's immigration policies.

The former immigration minister plans to propose a cap on annual net migration at 100,000, a figure significantly lower than the record high of 606,000 reached in 2022. Jenrick argues that without such measures, the Conservative Party risks losing credibility on immigration issues.

"Our party's survival rests on restoring our credibility on immigration. If we continue to duck and dance around this question our party has no future."

Jenrick's rhetoric echoes the leave-remain dichotomy of the 2016 Brexit referendum, framing the ECHR decision as a critical juncture for the party's future. This approach has drawn criticism from Nigel Farage, founder of the Reform UK party (formerly the Brexit Party), who questioned Jenrick's sincerity.

Meanwhile, Kemi Badenoch, currently second in the leadership race, has taken a more nuanced stance. While not ruling out leaving the ECHR, she emphasizes the need for a comprehensive plan rather than "throwaway promises." Badenoch also sparked debate by stating that "culture matters even more" than numbers in immigration policy.

The leadership contest, triggered by Rishi Sunak's resignation, is set to narrow down to two candidates next month before Conservative Party members make the final decision. As the race intensifies, the debate over immigration and international agreements continues to shape the party's future direction.

This leadership battle unfolds against the backdrop of ongoing challenges in UK immigration policy, including the controversial Rwanda asylum plan blocked by the European Court of Human Rights in 2022. The outcome of this contest could significantly influence the UK's approach to human rights and immigration in the coming years.