The first Rwanda removals flights will take off next month and a Conservative government will quit the European Court of Human Rights if necessary, Rishi Sunak declared in Silverstone today, where he unveiled his party’s manifesto for the 4 July general election. 

Sunak said flights removing illegal migrants will depart in July and ‘if we’re forced to choose between our security and the jurisdiction of a foreign court, including the ECHR, we will always choose our nation’s security’.

The acronym 'ECHR' generally refers to the European Convention on Human Rights. The Conservative manifesto document states: 'If we are forced to choose between our security and the jurisdiction of a foreign court, including the ECtHR, we will always choose our security.'

Sunak said first time buyers will not have to pay stamp duty for properties up to £425,000. The Conservatives will also recruit 8,000 new police officers, cut anti-social behaviour through ‘intensive hot spot policing’ and ‘protect women and girls by guaranteeing single sex spaces through an amendment to the Equality Act to make it clear sex means biological sex’.

Elsewhere the Conservative manifesto promises to:

  • 'End the legal merry-go-round. We will stop illegal migrants from bringing spurious challenges to block their removal by bringing our Illegal Migration Act into force and clearing the asylum backlog, with all claims processed in six months.'
  • 'Support our world class legal services sector, including through an Arbitration Bill. We will help individuals and small businesses bring cases against wealthier opponents with legislation to support third party funding of litigation'.
  • 'End frivolous legal challenges that frustrate infrastructure delivery by amending the law so judicial reviews that don’t have merit do not waste court time.'
  • Cut the 'Covid court backlog' by keeping Nightingale courtrooms open, funding sitting days and investing in court maintenance, match 100 criminal law pupillages 'to speed up justice for victims; and 'continue to ensure access to justice through legal aid provision'.

Sir Keir Starmer will launch Labour’s manifesto on Thursday. The Liberal Democrats manifesto was unveiled by party leader Sir Ed Davey yesterday.

 

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