RISHI Sunak is prepared to consider taking the UK out of the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR) amid an anticipated spike in migrant arrivals, it has been reported.
The PM and Home Secretary Suella Braverman are finalising plans for the most draconian immigration legislation in British history which will take the UK to the "boundaries" of international law, The Sunday Times reported.
Official estimates suggest there will be a 50% rise in migration on last year with 65,000 arrivals expected.
Senior figures have said if the legislation is ruled unlawful by the European Court of Human Rights, Sunak is happy to look at withdrawing from the ECHR.
A source said to be familiar with Sunak's thinking told the paper:"The PM has been clear he wants to introduce legislation that meets our international obligations.
"This bill will go as far as possible within international law. We are pushing the boundaries of what is legally possible, while staying within the ECHR. And we are confident that when it is tested in the courts, we will win.
“But if this legislation gets onto the statute book and is found to be lawful by our domestic courts, but it is still being held up in Strasbourg, then we know the problem is not our legislation or our courts.
“If that’s the case, then of course he will be willing to reconsider whether being part of the ECHR is in the UK’s long-term interests.”
Senior figures say Sunak is prepared to deploy the nuclear option before the General Election if the European court says no to the plans. It could be put at the heart of the Conservative manifesto to draw a sharp line between them and Labour.
The reason for the predicted increase is that large numbers of people are seeking to move from central Asia, particularly Afghanistan, through Turkey and into Europe.
Polling and Tory focus groups show that immigration is in the top three issues for Conservative voters, with the economy and the NHS.
