Keir Starmer should overhaul article eight of the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR) to make the deportation of foreign criminals an easier process.
That is the view of Labour MP Jonathan Brash, who told Martin Daubney on GB News he thinks decisions over asylum and immigration should be decided by the Government.
Following a string of controversial immigration rulings, Home Secretary Yvette Cooper is looking at the rules with particular focus on article eight.
The convention guarantees people “the right to respect for your family life”.
Keir Starmer is facing pressure from his own MPs
GB NEWS / PA
Amid fears judges are exploiting flimsy guidelines to overturn deportation orders, Red Wall MPs are now backing calls for the Government to address how article eight can be applied in courts.
Brash told GB News: “The Home Secretary has asked for a review of article eight and the way it’s applied.
LATEST DEVELOPMENTS
“I don’t think it’s a particularly controversial view to say that if our government wants to deport a foreign criminal, they should be able to.
“The ECHR allows for that in issues of public safety and national security. It’s perfectly legitimate for a government to say article eight is not applying here, we are deporting a foreign criminal.
“And if that’s a controversial virtual view for anyone, I don’t know what they’re thinking about, because quite frankly, if someone is a danger to the public in this country, they should be deported. It’s as simple as that.”
The ECHR’s role in British politics has grown increasingly contentious but calls to address it have often come from the Right.
Jonathan Brash said the Government should have the final say on deporting foreign criminals
GB NEWS
But some from Labour circles are looking at it as a hindrance with ex-home secretary Jack Straw last week urging Starmer to back away, questioning its “ongoing utility”.
While Brash did not make any demands to that degree, he said firm measures must be applied to ensure the Government can effectively deal with the migrant crisis.
“I think that’s what people want, a government that actually makes the decision. The government was democratically elected, they should be in charge of who is in the country and who is not.
“If you are a criminal and you are proposing harm to the British people, and you’re not from this country and you’re here illegally, you should be deported.
Brash spoke to Martin Daubney on GB News
GB NEWS
“It can’t really be much simpler than that, and we have to get to a position where we deliver that.
“I think reviewing how it’s applied, as has happened in other countries, very successfully is exactly the right thing to do.
“The Home Secretary has ordered a review into the application of article eight. I will push, along with many other MPs, to make sure that’s as impactful as possible.
“It’s happened in other countries; there’s absolutely no reason why it can’t happen here.
“It is the Home Secretary who has ordered the review. We happen to support it. We feel these issues very keenly on behalf of our constituents, but the government is driving this forward.
“I think what you’ve seen in the first eight months of this Labour government is tougher action at our border, international agreements with the likes of Italy and Germany and others and now reviewing the ECHR application in our courts.
“We’re responding to what the public that we represent want; that is the job of politicians.”
