Kemi Badenoch has called for a migration clampdown (Image: Getty)
Kemi Badenoch has pledged to review the UK’s membership of the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR) in a bid to clamp down on migration
The Tory party leader spoke today at Centre for Policy Studies (CPS) think tank event where she warned migration would rise under Labour.
She said: “Now, as I have said, tomorrow’s figures will likely show a reduction in net immigration and no doubt the new Government will try to take credit for that reduction. But that change is due to the reforms that the made during our final months in power.”
Mrs Badenoch added: “Even though those figures tomorrow are likely to be a start in the right direction, it’s not enough. We remain a world away from where we need to be. Labour will get us there, under a Labour Government immigration will remain far too high. We are already seeing the signs.”
Mrs Badenoch claimed Labour “won’t change anything”, referring to historic remarks by Sir that there was a “racist undercurrent that permeates all immigration law”.
“Labour have no serious plan for ending illegal immigration… Enforcement on its own will never solve the problem. People know if they can make it to the UK, they will be able to stay. We must end that. The result of Labour’s policies will be consistently high illegal immigration throughout this Parliament and insufficient action on legal migration.”
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Mrs Badenoch said she would re-assess the country’s membership of the ECHR which previously halted flights to Rwanda.
She previously accused people who are committed to leaving the ECHR of offering “easy answers” on illegal migration.
Speaking yesterday, the leader of the opposition added: “We will review every policy, treaty and part of our legal framework, including the ECHR and the Human Rights Act. And in designing our detailed policies will put the following elements at the core – a strict numerical cap with visas only for those who will make a substantial and clear overall contribution.
“A fully transparent approach publishing all the data so for the first time everyone can see the real costs and benefits of different types of migration. A reconsidered approach to citizenship and settlement, making the path to a British passport a privilege to be earned, not an automatic right. Zero tolerance for foreign criminals remaining in the UK. And, of course, an effective deterrent for illegal migration.”
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Mrs Badenoch admitted leacing the ECHR is “not a silver bullet”.
She added: “It’s not even the most radical thing that we’re probably going to have to do. But if we’re going to leave the ECHR, we need to have a plan, not just a promise.
“There is a lot more that is going on in our immigration system beyond the ECHR and what I don’t want to do is what has happened before, where politicians make promises quickly to get votes and then things aren’t delivered.
“What you are going to see from us is a new approach, principles and policy based on a plan.”
Mrs Badenoch declined to commit to a numerical cap on migration during the Tory leadership contest, while her rival Robert Jenrick had pledged to cap it at the tens of thousands or lower.
It comes after previously called for a clamp down on migration, claiming that many use Britain as “a sponge”.
Speaking to the Today programmed in October, she said: “We need to make sure that when people are coming to this country they are people who are coming to contribute and who want the success of our country.
“If you want to stay here we live in an age where you need to be very committed. We are not a dormitory, we are not a sponge.”