Kemi Badenoch has backed Trump-style, country-wide travel bans as part of a crackdown on illegal migration as she confirmed it was “likely” Britain would need to leave the European Convention on Human Rights, saying the UK was being “mugged” by illegal immigration. The Telegraph has more.
The Tory leader said there were “scenarios” where such travel bans would be “viable” following Donald Trump’s announcement this week to impose a blanket bar on arrivals from 12 countries.
Her comments came as she confirmed it was “likely” Britain would need to leave the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR), saying the UK was being “mugged” by illegal immigration and could not continue to be the “world’s softest touch”.
She branded Reform UK a “Left-wing party” and, amid speculation about her future as leader, admitted she needed to improve, saying “it actually takes quite a while to learn” how to be leader of the Opposition.
Asked about Mr Trump’s travel ban on 12 countries, Ms Badenoch said: “Parliament needs to be able to decide who comes into the country, for how long, and who needs to leave, and that does include travel bans.
“On a country-specific basis it’s much tougher, it’s often more vague. But I think there are scenarios where that is viable. That doesn’t mean that I agree with what Donald Trump has done, I haven’t actually seen the list of countries that he’s banned people from. I’m much more focused on… what’s happening here.”
The White House ban has targeted countries that pose a terror threat to the US, have a “historic failure to accept back” migrants earmarked for deportation, or whose nationals “pose significant risks” of overstaying their visas.
“The overarching point is that governments should have the ability to do these things if the circumstances require it,” said a senior Tory source.
Ms Badenoch confirmed that a Tory government would resurrect Rwanda-style deportation schemes, where migrants who arrive illegally are denied asylum and removed to a third country, or returned to their home nation.
“Britain is being mugged,” she told an audience at the Royal United Services Institute think tank. “Our asylum system is completely broken and will require a fundamental rebuild so that the British government, not people traffickers, control it.
“That means a total end to asylum claims in this country by illegal immigrants, and immediately removing all those who arrive illegally and try to claim asylum.”
She dismissed suggestions by Alain Berset, the head of the Council of Europe, that the ECHR must adapt, with “no taboo” on rewriting its rules. She said previous attempts at reform had been thwarted, and noted Mr Berset had admitted any change would be “difficult” and “complex”.
Worth reading in full.
To join in with the discussion please make a donation to The Daily Sceptic.
Profanity and abuse will be removed and may lead to a permanent ban.