Rishi Sunak leaves the door open to Britain quitting European rights court – as he ‘would choose UK’s security over being member every single time’

Rishi Sunak insisted he would not hesitate to quit the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR) last night, claiming he would choose Britain’s security over membership ‘every time’.

The Prime Minister also accused Work leader sir Keir Starmer of the lack of an effective deterrent for illegal migrants and consistently voting against legislation Rwanda.

Mr Sunak acknowledged that illegal migration was still a ‘growing problem’ but said his Rwanda plan was proof Conservatives had already addressed the problem.

Hours earlier, Minister of the Interior James Slim repeatedly refused to rule out the dramatic move to leave the ECHR, which many on the right have pushed for as a way to enforce tougher policies on illegal immigrants.

On the possibility of Britain leaving the ECHR, Mr Sunak said last night during the televised debate with the Labor leader ITV: ‘I believe that all our plans are in accordance with our international obligations.

“But if I have to choose between securing our borders and the safety of our country or a foreign court, I will choose the safety of our country every time.”

Rishi Sunak (pictured) has insisted he will not shy away from quitting the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR).

British Labor leader Keir Starmer debates Conservative Party leader and Prime Minister Rishi Sunak as ITV hosts the first head-to-head debate

James Cleverly (pictured) has hinted that the Conservative manifesto could leave the door open for Britain to leave the European Convention on Human Rights

Sir Keir pointed to record migration numbers and small boat crossings in recent years and said his experience in taking down terrorist gangs shows that taking down people smugglers is possible.

“The flights will go in July, but only if I am your Prime Minister,” Sunak said.

‘If Keir Starmer is elected, all those people will be released, the flights will be canceled and we will have no deterrent to stop the dishonesty of people crossing on boats.

“So that’s the choice for you in this election: Stick to our plan and illegal immigrants will be on those planes. With Labor they will take to the streets.

“Over the past 12 months, crossings have fallen as the plans we have put in place are starting to make a difference, but the choice of this election is about the future.

‘We introduced new laws into Parliament which have now resulted in almost a thousand criminals and people smugglers being arrested and jailed for hundreds of years.

‘Because we have to destroy the gangs – Keir Starmer voted against those laws. So as always, here you say one thing, but your track record says something completely different and you can’t rely on it.’

Although the interior minister had repeatedly refused to rule out a departure from the ECtHR, he also said the Strasbourg court needed to be shaken up after a series of “really wrong” rulings.

Cleverly captured during a visit to a transport company in Rochester today – where Reform’s predecessor, UKIP, won a by-election ten years ago

British Home Secretary and Conservative MP James Cleverly talks to journalists on board the Conservative campaign bus in Kent

However, Cleverly emphasized that his party’s immigration policy is not dictated by Nigel Farage, who has long called for Britain to withdraw from the ECHR to “complete” Brexit.

It comes after the Conservatives vowed to impose an annual cap on legal migration, in a new move to reduce the number of foreign workers coming to Britain.

During a visit to a transport company in Rochester, Mr Cleverly said: ‘We have a good track record on ECHR reform.

‘We are certainly not the only member state of the ECtHR that believes that some of its recent decisions are truly wrong and exceed the powers of the ECtHR.’

Mr Sunak had hinted he could leave the ECHR if it blocks his Rwanda policy again, but others in the Cabinet fear this would send a dangerous message about Britain’s commitment to human rights, as well as destroy peace in would endanger Northern Ireland.