Suella Braverman says ‘GB News viewers won’t be fooled’ as Yvette Cooper rolls out sex offender refugee clampdown

Braverman claimed the policy announcement was timed to coincide with Thursday's local elections and suggested it would be undermined by existing human rights laws.

The former Home Secretary made her remarks during an appearance on GB News.

Under the new legislation, ministers will receive powers to exclude foreigners convicted of sex offences in the UK or abroad from refugee protection, even if their sentence is less than 12 months.

The Home Office will be able to deport such convicts, putting them on a par with terrorists and war criminals deemed to pose a "danger to the community".

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The law will apply to both migrants claiming asylum and existing refugees who could have their status revoked if convicted of sex offences.

Cooper said: "Sex offenders who pose a risk to the community should not be allowed to benefit from refugee protections in the UK."

Braverman told GB News viewers: "You can't fool GB News viewers easily and they won't be fooled by what Yvette Cooper said today."

She added: "It's no coincidence this has been announced just days before the local elections and frankly, it's not worth the paper it is written on."

The former Home Secretary suggested the timing was politically motivated, claiming: "Labour are struggling to maintain support."

She argued the policy announcement was an attempt to shore up voter support ahead of Thursday's local council elections.

Braverman's central criticism focused on human rights legislation that she believes will render Cooper's policy ineffective.

"If claimants and foreign criminals are still able to bring human rights claims or claim protection under the European Convention on Human Rights, it will mean nothing whatsoever," she said.

She highlighted specific concerns about existing legal frameworks.

"The problem with this hope is human rights laws are so expansive and so accessible. Foreign criminals can get a lawyer paid for by the taxpayer and they can put in claim after claim and appeal after appeal."

Braverman specifically mentioned Article 3 of the European Convention on Human Rights, claiming it "has been distorted beyond all recognition."

The tougher approach on immigration comes as The Telegraph revealed several cases in which foreign sex offenders either avoided being removed from the UK or were granted asylum.

Political observers note the timing ahead of Thursday's local elections may be aimed at preventing Labour voters from abandoning the party for Reform UK.

Cooper has framed the policy as part of efforts to restore order to "a broken asylum system that has been mired in delay and dysfunction for far too long."

She emphasised the government is "strengthening our system to make sure that the rules are respected and enforced."