A Tory leadership contender has warned that immigration will only be reduced if Britain withdraws from the European Convention on Human Rights. Mr Jenrick's opponents have questioned his stance on the international accord, which he blames for impeding efforts to combat illegal immigration and deport foreign criminals. The senior Tory also underlined that the guarantee of a binding cap on legal migration is required to regain support from Nigel Farage's Reform UK. 

Fellow Conservative leadership hopefuls Kemi Badenoch and James Cleverly have questioned the former immigration minister's approach, claiming that he is proposing "easy answers" or "soundbites and quick fixes" that would not produce results. However, Mr Jenrick told reporters in Westminster: "On immigration, I've been very clear with people about what my position is. I believe that by being clear about where we stand this autumn, we may begin to regain the millions of votes lost to Reform.

Mr Jenrick added: “The public are demanding action on this, they are aghast at what is happening in the English Channel, and if we were lucky enough to re-enter government, the public would not give us a third chance if we then wasted years and years in an attempt to renegotiate our terms, which would be as doomed to fail as David Cameron’s attempt to renegotiate our membership of the European Union.”