Exiting the European Convention on Human Rights would make it “significantly more difficult” to prevent migrants from reaching the UK via small boats, a government minister stated on Wednesday after a right-wing party proposed leaving the treaty.
The anti-immigration Reform UK party suggests withdrawing from the ECHR and aims to deport up to 600,000 asylum seekers within five years if successful in the next general election, anticipated in 2029.
However, Nick Thomas-Symonds, the minister for European Union relations, dismissed the notion that leaving the convention would be a “simple fix” for the immigration issue.
“Exiting the ECHR and joining Belarus and Russia as the only other European nations not participating is not going to help secure the international cooperation needed to address this problem,” Thomas-Symonds told reporters.
“In fact, it will make it substantially harder,” he added.
Reform plans to replace the current Human Rights Act with a British Bill of Rights, applicable solely to British citizens and those legally residing in the UK.
Party leader Nigel Farage is capitalizing on public discontent over the record high of migrant arrivals, as the ruling Labour party’s popularity declines in the polls.
Since Labour’s Keir Starmer became prime minister over a year ago, more than 50,000 individuals have crossed the Channel from northern France in small boats, despite his promise to “dismantle the gangs” facilitating these journeys.
Thomas-Symonds emphasized that international collaboration is “essential” to dismantle people smuggling networks.
“These smugglers operate across vast distances and numerous borders,” he noted.
“We are focused on the diligent work needed to address this. There is no simple solution,” he added.
Recent data showed that 111,084 people sought asylum in the UK in the year ending in June, the highest annual count since records began in 2001.
Labour reports that it has deported more than 35,000 unsuccessful asylum applicants since regaining power in July 2024.
Public frustration has centered on using hotels to accommodate migrants, a policy initiated by the previous Conservative government.
Official figures indicate that 32,345 asylum seekers were temporarily housed in UK hotels by the end of March.
These accommodations have become focal points for anti-immigration protests across England, mostly peaceful under tight police supervision.
Recent YouGov polling revealed that 71 percent of voters think Starmer is mismanaging the asylum hotel situation, including 56 percent of Labour supporters.
