Robert Jenrick vowed to do ’whatever is required’ to sort the small boats crisis (Image: GETTY)

The Rwanda policy continues to be stalled by legal challenges after the European court intervened at the 11^th hour to ground the first deportation flight last summer. The immigration minister was asked about reports the Tories could campaign to leave the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR) at the next election if the Rwanda plan continues to be blocked.

“That’s why we’re working on every possible front. That’s why we have produced the most comprehensive plan, I believe, of any European country to tackle this issue.”And we’ll do whatever is necessary ultimately to defend our borders and to bring order to our asylum system.“Pressed on if that includes leaving the ECHR, he added:”Well, we we will do whatever is required, take whatever necessary action is needed.

“But the point I think I’ve tried to make to you is that we’re very confident that the arrangements that we’ve put in place with Rwanda are in accordance with our international law obligations.”And I take heart from the fact that the courts so far have broadly agreed with that.

“And I hope that the Supreme Court will enable us to move forward with our Rwanda partnership later this year, at the beginning of next year.”That’s what the British public want to see, is we need to instil into this process a core deterrent.

Lee Anderson tells anti-barge illegal migrants to ’f*** off back to France’

“And that’s what the Rwanda plan does. It fundamentally breaks the business model of the people smugglers in a way which no other European country, frankly, has been able to do thus far. We want to be the first country to do that.”Building on the work that other nations like Australia have done in the recent past and that that will be a game changer in tackling this challenge."

The ECHR sets out the rights of 47 countries belonging to the Council of Europe and is overseen by the European Court of Human Rights. It is separate from the EU so the UK’s adherence to it was not affected by Brexit.

The Strasbourg court sparked fury from Tories when it prevented the first flight carrying illegal migrants on a one-way ticket to Rwanda from leaving the tarmac last summer.

The controversial policy has continued to be stalled by legal challenges that will end in the Supreme Court.

But the Government has insisted Prime Minister Rishi Sunak can deliver his pledge to stop small boats crossing the English Channel without leaving the convention