‘Dear oh dear’: Lee Anderson swipes at Kemi Badenoch over deportations row: ‘It’s nonsense!’

Mr Anderson firmly defended his party's position on withdrawing from the European Convention on Human Rights, emphasising that Reform would proceed with its plans regardless of opposition criticism.

The dispute emerged after Ms Badenoch claimed that any effective elements in Reform's immigration strategy had been lifted from Conservative policy, whilst suggesting Nigel Farage's party had failed to undertake the necessary groundwork to implement such measures.

Mr Anderson expressed particular disdain for warnings about potential breaches of international law, stating that whenever critics raise such concerns, he questions them about the actual ramifications.

"Every time one of these lefties tell me, 'this will break international law', I always ask, 'what's the consequence of breaking international law?'" Mr Anderson said during his GB News appearance.

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The Reform MP characterised typical responses about damaging Britain's global standing as irrelevant to his constituents' priorities.

"They respond, 'well it will affect our reputation on the world stage'. There's nobody in Ashfield lying awake at night worrying about our reputation on the world stage," Mr Anderson declared.

He branded such concerns as "nonsense" and confirmed Reform would proceed with ECHR withdrawal if necessary, or simply disregard the convention's requirements.

Ms Badenoch had levelled her criticism during a visit to Chelmsford on Tuesday, where she addressed journalists about Reform's recently announced immigration strategy.

The Conservative leader argued that Reform's proposals, which include plans for returns agreements with nations like Taliban-controlled Afghanistan, demonstrated a lack of original thinking.

"Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, we put out a deportation Bill in May. The stuff that actually works in what he said has come from there," Ms Badenoch stated.

She maintained that whilst Reform had adopted Conservative ideas, they failed to grasp the underlying rationale behind such policies.

"From what Reform has announced today, they haven't done the thinking, they've just copied our homework, but they don't understand the reasons behind them," the Tory leader told PA news agency.

Reform's immigration proposals include expanding detention facilities to accommodate 24,000 asylum seekers and establishing deportation agreements with nations including Afghanistan, Eritrea and Iran.

The party aims to remove individuals who arrive through unauthorised channels, particularly those crossing the Channel in small boats, which Reform claims the Conservatives failed to address during their time in government.

A Reform spokesperson countered Ms Badenoch's accusations by highlighting Conservative failures, noting that illegal migration reached record highs during their 14-year tenure, with the Tory leader serving in the Cabinet for four of those years.

The spokesperson stated that the Channel crossings crisis had escalated uncontrollably under Conservative leadership, adding that few people believe the Tories can effectively tackle immigration issues.

Meanwhile, Ms Badenoch has commissioned an assessment of potential ECHR withdrawal, with findings expected before the Conservative conference next month.