Farage suggested leading Tories aren't serious about leaving the ECHR. (Image: Getty)
Nigel Farage issued a stinging slapdown to Conservative leadership hopefuls he claims are "pretending" to be behind leaving the European Convention on Human Rights.
In a post on X, formerly Twitter, the Reform UK leader wrote: "ECHR membership is a Tory leadership issue because Reform are a force."
In a brutal 11-word swipe, he added: "The difference is we want to leave and they just pretend."
It comes after leadership hopeful Tom Tugendhat said this week he is willing to leave the European Convention on Human Rights as he moves to secure support from the right of the party.
In an article for the Telegraph, Mr Tugendhat, who has long been seen as a moderate, warned that institutions making it harder for Britain to control its borders will either have to get out of the way and stop frustrating elected politicians, or face the UK withdrawing entirely.
READ MORE: Nigel Farage slams Gay Pride event after it hosts ‘toss a milkshake' game
ECHR membership is a Tory leadership issue because Reform are a force. The difference is we want to leave and they just pretend.
— Nigel Farage MP (@Nigel_Farage) July 25, 2024
Addressing the ECHR, the former soldier said the party agrees that if any institution does not serve the British people, and makes it harder to control our borders, “we will have to exempt ourselves from them, or leave their jurisdiction”.
The international convention is enforced by the European Court of Human Rights and the UK played a key role in its creation following the Second World War.
Tory hardliners have long been calling for the UK to leave the ECHR, claiming it is a barrier to Britain having adequate control over its borders.
Former Home Secretary Suella Braverman has argued that the international conventions governing refugees aren't fit for purpose, and only encouraged activist lawyers to block deportations.
Critics say leaving the convention would have dire consequences, including damaging intercommunal relations, harming strategic relations with the US, and threatening human rights.
Tugendhat had previously argued for reform but that the UK should remain part of it - but has since backtracked in a bid to win over MPs on the right of the party.
DON'T MISS:
Tom Tugendhat says he would be willing to take Britain out of the ECHR [REPORT]
Nigel Farage boasts he has 'huge support' for new referendum on the ECHR [INSIGHT]
Nigel Farage blasts 'Rejoiner parliament' as he demands ECHR referendum [LATEST]
Tom Tugendhat (Image: Getty)
SUBSCRIBE Invalid email
We use your sign-up to provide content in ways you've consented to and to improve our understanding of you. This may include adverts from us and 3rd parties based on our understanding. You can unsubscribe at any time. Read our Privacy Policy
Farage has demanded a referendum on the ECHR, and said earlier this week said he believes there is sufficient support in the country to carry it through as he attacked the Tory government's inaction on the issue.
Mr Farage said in his Maiden Speech in the House of Commons: “On Monday, the Prime Minister spoke and said, ‘our commitment to membership of the ECHR is absolute’.
“Rishi Sunak, responding for the opposition, didn't query that in any way at all. He sort of made a vague reference in the election that we might consider leaving. He never meant it.
“So I suggested for a bit of fun, wouldn't it be great to have a referendum on the ECHR because the country would vote to leave.
DON'T MISS
Powered by
Why Gen Z voters are shifitng to the right - an expert explains
185 Comments
Reform UK would have come much closer to the Tories if 'sofa voters' turned out
107 Comments
'I'm a Tory who nearly voted Reform - this one candidate can win back votes'
52 Comments
Nigel Farage's five-word response as he's called ‘Tommy Robinson in a suit' over Southport
293 Comments
Reform UK finds unlikely ally in SNP as they both make same demand to Keir Starmer
114 Comments
Next Tory leader issued urgent warning by Boris Johnson and other ex party chiefs
175 Comments
Rachel Reeves plotting tax 'bombshell' as Labour warned hikes will 'kill growth'
387 Comments
Rachel Reeves accused of misleading the public over the state of the country's finances
691 Comments
UK firms addicted to cheap foreign labour - and British workers are sidelined
69 Comments
'You won't tax working people?' Labour minister in fiery clash over ￡20bn 'black hole'
53 Comments
Outrage as Labour make 'crazy move' in plot to bring UK closer to EU
1295 Comments
Nigel Farage accused of being ‘Tommy Robinson in a suit' by murdered MP's furious husband
Comments
Only a Reform-Tory alliance can prevent a decade of Labour
3 Comments
Reform UK civil war as Ben Habib refuses to back Nigel Farage over Southport comments
41 Comments
‘Exactly who we need!' Top Tory MP reveals why he's backing Kemi Badenoch for leader
67 Comments
Lord Frost says only one Tory candidate is speaking honestly and can defeat Labour
44 Comments
Only one Tory leadership candidate can possibly unite our party
34 Comments
I know only one candidate can win the Red Wall back for the Tories - it's Robert Jenrick
52 Comments
Is pro-EU Polish government about to fall?
18 Comments
Why Gen Z voters are shifitng to the right - an expert explains
185 Comments
Reform UK would have come much closer to the Tories if 'sofa voters' turned out
107 Comments
'I'm a Tory who nearly voted Reform - this one candidate can win back votes'
52 Comments
Nigel Farage's five-word response as he's called ‘Tommy Robinson in a suit' over Southport
293 Comments
Reform UK finds unlikely ally in SNP as they both make same demand to Keir Starmer
114 Comments
Next Tory leader issued urgent warning by Boris Johnson and other ex party chiefs
175 Comments
Rachel Reeves plotting tax 'bombshell' as Labour warned hikes will 'kill growth'
387 Comments
Rachel Reeves accused of misleading the public over the state of the country's finances
691 Comments
UK firms addicted to cheap foreign labour - and British workers are sidelined
69 Comments
'You won't tax working people?' Labour minister in fiery clash over ￡20bn 'black hole'
53 Comments
Outrage as Labour make 'crazy move' in plot to bring UK closer to EU
1295 Comments
Nigel Farage accused of being ‘Tommy Robinson in a suit' by murdered MP's furious husband
Comments
Only a Reform-Tory alliance can prevent a decade of Labour
3 Comments
Reform UK civil war as Ben Habib refuses to back Nigel Farage over Southport comments
41 Comments
‘Exactly who we need!' Top Tory MP reveals why he's backing Kemi Badenoch for leader
67 Comments
Lord Frost says only one Tory candidate is speaking honestly and can defeat Labour
44 Comments
Only one Tory leadership candidate can possibly unite our party
34 Comments
I know only one candidate can win the Red Wall back for the Tories - it's Robert Jenrick
52 Comments
Is pro-EU Polish government about to fall?
18 Comments
Why Gen Z voters are shifitng to the right - an expert explains
185 Comments
Reform UK would have come much closer to the Tories if 'sofa voters' turned out
107 Comments
'I'm a Tory who nearly voted Reform - this one candidate can win back votes'
52 Comments
Nigel Farage's five-word response as he's called ‘Tommy Robinson in a suit' over Southport
293 Comments
Reform UK finds unlikely ally in SNP as they both make same demand to Keir Starmer
114 Comments
Trending
“In this parliament, I felt more outnumbered in the last week here than I ever did in Brussels. There are more Brexiteers in Brussels than there are in this Westminster parliament.
"This is a Remainer parliament. It's a rejoiner parliament, it's a globalist parliament. It's a parliament totally unconcerned with massive population growth.
“So the five of us from Reform UK may be very much in the minority, with a few Conservatives having the guts to back us, but I think in the country, we've got huge support.”
The former Tory government's initial plan to fly illegal immigrants to Rwanda was blocked by the ECHR in June 2022 after issuing injunctions over the specifics of individual cases.