Sir Keir Starmer is sending two of his closest allies to the heart of the EU today in a desperate bid to “fix the problem” of the “far-right”.
David Lammy and Lord Hermer, the Attorney General, have been dispatched to Strasbourg for urgent talks on reforming the highly controversial European Convention on Human Rights.
The PM is pushing to rescue the treaty and make it “evolve to reflect the challenges of the 21st century”.
His poll-topping rivals Reform UK and his Tory opposition have both pledged to leave the Convention entirely, arguing it is being misused to fuel Britain’s migrant crisis.
In a joint article with his Danish counterpart Mette Frederiksen in The Guardian, Sir Keir pledged that migration “must be orderly, managed and sustainable”.
They said they would “act”, not “exploit these issues and stoke grievances as some do”.
The pair continued: “Together, we are calling on our friends across Europe to go further in tackling these shared challenges.
“Europe has faced big tests before and we have overcome them by acting together. Now we must do so again. Otherwise, the forces that seek to divide us will grow stronger.
“So our message is this: as responsible, progressive Governments we will deliver the change that people are crying out for. We will control our borders to protect our democracies – and make our nations stronger than ever in the years to come.”
Labour has pledged to change how Article 8, the right to a private life, is interpreted in domestic law.
Mr Lammy is set to argue for changes to Article 3 in a bid to make deportation from Britain easier.
The Deputy PM will renew Britain’s vows with the ECHR – and is expected to argue that pulling out would be a “fake solution”.
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Back in London… French presidential frontrunner plots alliance with Nigel Farage to end migrant crisis for good – with Royal Navy to stop the boats
France’s presidential frontrunner Jordan Bardella is moving to forge an alliance with Reform UK leader Nigel Farage to “restore Europe’s borders” after the pair held talks in London on Tuesday.
Mr Bardella, the leader of the National Rally party, pledged to change France’s border policy to support Britain in tackling the Channel small boats crisis should he secure victory in next year’s elections.
Speaking to The Telegraph, the 30-year-old said he would support joint patrols with Britain and give the UK Border Force the green light to carry out “pushbacks” in the Channel.
He met Mr Farage on Tuesday, labelling him a “pioneer” who fought for Britain’s independence from the EU.
The National Rally leader described the talks as preparations for governing.
And over lunch, according to The Spectator, Mr Farage told him he would instruct the Royal Navy to turn back small boats in the Channel – one of Reform’s longest-held campaign promises…
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