Boris Johnson allies launch new petition to demand UK quit ECHR and pressure Rishi Sunak

A new petition has been launched to pressurise Rish Sunak into caving into demands from Tory MPs on the right to change the law and leave the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR).

The ECHR’s Strasbourg court, according to critics, has become politicised and is now the main obstacle to Britain being able to control its borders.

Added to that the Court of Appeal and Supreme Court have ruled that the ECHR and other international agreements stand in the way of Britain implementing the Rwanda deportation scheme.

Boris Johnson ally Dame Andrea Jenkyns, who has already submitted a letter for a no-confidence vote in Rishi Sunak, is fronting the petition on the Conservative Post, a website pitched for Tory grassroots.

Dame Andrea said: “As the Conservative Post and I’s petition to leave the ECHR gains momentum with 35 thousand signatures, it’s clear that many share the belief that Britain should forge its path.

“Establishing a British Bill of Rights allows us to uphold our values and, crucially, regain control over our borders.

“This move is a vital step in safeguarding our sovereignty and addressing pressing issues, such as securing our borders and controlling immigration effectively.”

She is being supported by lawyer Paul Diamond and Lord Cruddas who is behind the Conservative Democratic Organisation (CDO).

Leading barrister Paul Diamond said: “The ECHR, which was drafted in 1950 was a modest and unremarkable treaty focusing on civil and political rights: such as right to life, fair trails and the freedom of religion and expression.

“These were rights known to the common law for hundreds of years and the ECHR was thought to have little application to the United Kingdom. It was designed to restrain the actions of certain countries with anti-democratic tendencies; and the post war success of Germany is something that needs to be recognised.

“The ECHR was unnecessarily incorporated into national law by the Blair government in the Human Rights Act 1998. Many in the Conservative opposition at the time saw the dangers of this politicised document being given the force of law; most noticeably by the late Baroness Young.

“Listening to the Labour front bench, one would think that we had no democracy, rule of law, free speech, or fair trials prior to the Human Rights Act. The truth of the matter is that after 25 years of the Human Rights Act and the ECHR we have less freedoms than before.”

Sacked former Home Secretary Suella Braverman had urged Mr Sunak to ditch the ECHR but her successor James Cleverly opposes the move.

Brexiteer Tory peer Lord Moylan said: “We have corrupted our constitution with alien legal superstructures and can no longer protect our borders.

“Surely things need to change. We need to leave the ECHR.”

Lord Cruddas posted a simple message.

He said: “The UK needs to leave ECHR and stop the boats.”