The United Kingdom government is considering ways to limit how the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR) is applied, in an effort to toughen its stance on illegal immigration.
Defence Secretary, John Healey said ministers want to tighten the interpretation of the ECHR, especially rules linked to family life, which are often used to stop deportations.
The move comes after Shabana Mahmood became Home Secretary in a reshuffle following Angela Rayner’s resignation.
Sources say Mahmood is prepared to take a tougher approach than her predecessor Yvette Cooper, even describing her style as start with the unthinkable and work backwards.
Last week, while Justice Secretary, Mahmood argued that Britain had taken a maximalist view of the ECHR, making it too easy for people to challenge deportation orders.
Cases have included an Albanian criminal who was allowed to stay in the UK partly because his son would not eat chicken nuggets if moved abroad.
Labour has ruled out leaving the ECHR altogether, which would put the UK alongside Russia and Belarus, but former Labour ministers Lord Blunkett and Jack Straw have suggested suspending or loosening its application.
This comes as Labour faces pressure from Reform UK. Nigel Farage, the party’s leader, promised at their conference to stop small boat crossings within two weeks of taking office, though later admitted it would depend on new laws being passed.
Meanwhile, Healey confirmed the Government is looking at using disused military bases to house asylum seekers as it closes hotels.
Military planners are already working with Border Command to prepare sites where new arrivals can be processed before deportation or approval to stay.
