Robert Jenrick Leads Tory Leadership Race with Bold ECHR Stance

Robert Jenrick, the 42-year-old former immigration minister, has emerged as the unexpected frontrunner in the Conservative Party leadership race. His campaign draws parallels to David Cameron's pivotal 2005 conference speech, which propelled Cameron to party leadership and eventually to 10 Downing Street.

Jenrick, who resigned from Rishi Sunak's Cabinet in December 2023 over immigration policy disagreements, now leads the pack with 33 MP votes in the second round. His closest rival, Kemi Badenoch, trails with 28 votes, while James Cleverly and Tom Tugendhat are tied at 21 each.

The Cambridge-educated politician's rise to prominence comes just two months after the Conservatives' electoral defeat in July. Jenrick's campaign has focused on a rightward shift from Sunak's policies, particularly regarding immigration and human rights legislation.

Central to Jenrick's platform is the proposal to withdraw the UK from the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR). He argues that this step is crucial for securing borders and addressing illegal immigration. Jenrick stated, "We will never secure our borders unless we leave the European Convention on Human Rights and repeal the Human Rights Act."

Jenrick's stance has drawn criticism from his rivals. He dismisses Tugendhat's suggestion of derogating from parts of the Convention as impractical and labels Badenoch's reform proposal a "fantasy." This bold approach aligns with his goal to win back voters who switched to the Reform party in the last election.

On education, Jenrick proposes banning government student loans for the lowest-performing 10% of universities. This controversial plan aims to redirect funds towards apprenticeships and technical skills training.

"Many of our 160 universities and world-class institutions are the envy of the world. But too many provide poor quality degrees that saddle graduates and the taxpayer with debt, and fail to equip students with the skills this country desperately needs."

When questioned about international politics, Jenrick carefully navigated topics such as support for Donald Trump and the potential return of Boris Johnson to Conservative politics. He maintained a diplomatic stance on the upcoming US presidential election and avoided committing to Johnson's potential comeback.

As the Conservative Party conference unfolds in Birmingham, all eyes will be on Jenrick and his rivals as they present their visions for the party's future. With his bold policy proposals and frontrunner status, Jenrick aims to replicate Cameron's success and lead the Conservatives into a new era.