Former Conservative Attorney General, Sir Geoffrey Cox MP, has issued a warning about Britain’s place in the ECHR while speaking with GB News’ political editor Christopher Hope.
Christopher began by asking: “What's your advice to members of the Tory right as they seek to amend the Rwanda Bill next month?”
“I think there are areas where we could certainly examine the wording of the bill, but I think we can't fundamentally alter its structure,” said Cox.
“I think that the structure is carefully calculated to maximise the prospects of it getting through the House of Lords and surviving in the courts."
Christopher Hope spoke with former Attorney General, Sir Geoffrey Cox
GB News
“What I would say is that the majority has shown that there is a strong will in the democratically elected House for this bill to pass.”
Cox continued: “I think the problem is that if this bill is not allowed to pass substantially as it is, there will be a growing momentum for something that I personally would regret and be reluctant to contemplate, which would be withdrawal from the European Convention on Human Rights.
“We are looking at a situation where the democratic House has already asserted in a quite muscular fashion its concept of its sovereignty.
“I think we need to reflect very carefully before its democratic will is frustrated because of the implications.
LATEST DEVELOPMENTS:
A total of 37 Conservative MPs abstained from yesterday's vote on the Government's Rwanda Bill, including former Home Secretary Suella BravermanPAChristopher Hope came back on the ECHR, saying: “The issue of pulling out of the European Court of Human Rights could be a big one of the next election for many on the right. It's unfinished business from Brexit. You're a Brexiteer, of course, the Attorney General during Theresa May's time. What's your advice to your colleagues?”
“Well, I've never considered that the European Convention on Human Rights has some kind of sacred status. I’m consistently on record as having advocated a British Bill of Rights for many years.
“I would be reluctant to reach the conclusion because of the complications that surround it with the Good Friday Agreement.
“But I think the momentum will be irresistible if this bill is frustrated and impeded in the House of Lords or elsewhere.
Cleverly signed a new treaty with Rwanda last weekPA“I think this is a success for the Prime Minister, but I think we need to come together as a Conservative Party, agree on fundamental principles and unite behind a particular version of this bill.
“That is critical because divisions will be punished. And as a united party, we can go into the next election, but disunited we will be severely punished.”
Finally, Christopher asked: “What are the odds on flights taking off with migrants in the spring in May, as the PM has promised?”
“I would put it at slightly higher than evens,” said Cox simply.