When the first attempt to deport refugees to Rwanda, on the grounds that they had arrived in the UK by irregular means, failed following intervention citing the Human Rights Act, the Tory right was incandescent. Suella Braverman, for some reason appointed Home Secretary by Rishi Sunak even though she had previously had to resign the post, would stop all that.
But here a problem entered: as the UK was a signatory to the ECHR, human rights claims could be appealed all the way to their being decided by the European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg. Which is ABROAD and FORRIN. The Brexiteer death cult that is the Tory right wanted a way to cut that out, even though it could not be cut out without leaving the Convention.
So any briefing from the Home Office claiming that the ECHR could in some way be bypassed, or rulings simply ignored, should have been taken with the largest available pinch of salt - and ignored. But in the looking glass world of the right-wing press, reality was not allowed to intrude this morning as the latest Braverman Briefing was taken as gospel - and given front page status.
The Murdoch Times gave the most prominent billing: “Judges lose power to block migrant flights … Tory rebels win concessions from Sunak on Rwanda deportations” is the headline, although Matt Dathan’s article goes on to claim “Judges will no longer be able to block migrant deportations … the Government has agreed to amend its Illegal Migration Bill”.
Also, Sunak has confirmed that the UK will not be exiting the ECHR. Over at the increasingly desperate and downmarket Telegraph, Charles Hymas is also not asking questions. “Braverman given powers to ignore ECHR” they tell, going on to explain “The Home Secretary is expected to be given ‘discretion’ to ignore Strasbourg injunctions, known as Rule 39 orders”.
In the Times, “Judges lose power” becomes “Judges will no longer be able to block”, and then in the Tel “given powers” becomes “is expected to be given ‘discretion’”. But the latter does come clean on why the briefing took place: “The move … is expected to head off a revolt by some 60 Tory MPs who have been demanding stronger action against the ECHR”.
The UK is a signatory to the Convention, and although one hates to come over all Neil Kinnock, there is a national newspaper - a national newspaper - talking about elected representatives “demanding … action” against it. The Tel article also claims that any legal action to block deportation flights can only proceed once the allegedly illegal migrant has been deported.
Yeah, right. Then comes the admission “Ministers hope to enact the legislation before the Summer recess”. So it might happen, but then again, it might not. Moreover, any decision using that legislation is highly likely to be contested, given that Ms Braverman has admitted that the Bill’s provisions may not be compatible with the Convention rights.
Copy and Paste client journalism is alive and well. But you knew that already.
https://www.patreon.com/Timfenton
4 comments:
No worries. We have a "Labour opposition" to....to....to....er.... tell the government it's all "... too little, too late..."
Only THIS time there's no EU commissioner post to offer as a Kinnock-type reward for compliance.
But there's always the mothballs of the House of "Lords" as compensation for services rendered. You know, as per Mann, Austin and a host of other Quislings.
Still, next month there's the Proper Charlie Circus to help everyone through the "cost of living crisis", complete with "holy oil" and "splinters from the true cross" gifted from an old man in medieval dress in Rome. Wait until you see what Britain's propaganda clerks do with that pile of shite - you ain't seen nothin' yet.
All in the 21st century.
Stirring stuff as ever!
I don't know what advice you're getting from the careers master, Anonymous, but every time I read one of your lively missives it strikes me that after you've got your A levels out of the way, you might well have a future in student journalism.
Bravo Tim. Good work.
And fully on-board with anonymous too.
Awwww....c'mon me old Micawber. You'll have to do better than this 1899 Mr. Quelch persona. It's soooo old it has the lingering odour of decaying jellied eels and Kelvin MacKenzie.
Tsk tsk. Must try harder. 1/10.😂
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