Tom Tugendhat previously categorically rejected withdrawing the UK from the ECHR, an unearthed clip for the 2022 Tory leadership race found by GB News has revealed.
The former Security Minister jumped out of the blocks by declaring his candidacy and positioning himself as open to ending the Strasbourg court’s jurisdiction over Britain.
However, during the 2022 Tory leadership contest, Tugendhat swatted away the suggestion.
After being asked about whether he would support leaving the ECHR, the 51-year-old simply said: “No.”
Tugendhat, who entered the House of Commons after serving as a Lieutenant Colonel in the British Army, fielded a number of other quick-fire questions during his sit-down interview.
However, he appeared more willing to give prolonged answers to other issues, including China potentially invading Taiwan, HS2 and net zero.
Tugendhat was more evasive when asked if he would work for a Prime Minister who had broken the law.
“I’ve been very clear about my policies on all of this and I think what we need to be doing is bring back integrity in British politics,” he said.
Penny Mordaunt, who lost her seat on July 4, also rejected the suggestion that the UK should leave the ECHR.
During the 2022 leadership race, eventual victor Liz Truss told MPs she would rescind the UK’s membership of the Strasbourg court “if necessary”.
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After insisting she wanted to reform the ECHR first, Truss added: “If it did take leaving the ECHR I would be prepared to do that.”
Rishi Sunak also stressed the need to keep “all options on the table”.
However, the Richmond MP added: “We’re clearly not at that point [leaving] and there’s a lot of work for us to work through.”
Tugendhat has pivoted on the issue since the 2022 leadership race, expressing a potential openness to leave the ECHR.
Speaking to GB News on Thursday, Tugendhat said: “If this [the ECHR] fails to reform, if it fails to work, if derogation fails to allow us to protect the British people then we need to leave.”
Tugendhat’s decision to lean into Euroscepticism was pounced upon by a number of MPs, including Nigel Farage.
Tom Tugendhat is seen as a stalking horse for the moderate wing of the Tory PartyPAThe Reform UK leader asked: “I saw a bit of the interview where he said we have to be absolutely clear but he wasn’t very clear, was he?”
However, allies of the Tonbridge MP stress he has consistently backed derogation and is being swayed by the ongoing Channel crossing crisis.
A source close to Tugendhat told GB News: “Tom has consistently supported derogation from the ECHR for over a decade.
“With the small boat crisis worsening, he has made it clear that if the ECHR fails to reform and derogation fails to protect British people by securing our borders, then we must leave.”
The number of migrants crossing the Channel stood at a record-breaking 45,774 in 2022, with a further 29,437 making the perilous 21-mile journey last year.
However, concern about the sincerity of Tugendhat’s ECHR pledge threatens his commitment to restore integrity.
Writing for The Telegraph, Tugendhat said: “The key to victory is that simple word: trust. We must win back the trust of the British people by putting our trust in them.
A picture of Channel crossing migrants arriving in KentPA“By fighting every day to allow them to make the best decisions for themselves and their families. Fighting to let them keep more of their money. Fighting to let them have a say about how their communities look and feel.”
Former Immigration Minister Damien Green, who is backing Tugendhat, claimed the ex-Security Minister is not explicitly expressing support for leaving the ECHR.
“When you say he wants to leave the ECHR that is not true,” the ex-Ashford MP told the BBC.
Green instead claimed Tugendhat hopes to reform the Strasbourg court, adding: “I assume he wants a reformed ECHR.”
Tugendhat stood for Tory leader in 2022 but was eliminated in the third ballot after receiving the backing of 31 predominantly One Nation Conservative MPs.
The Tonbridge MP left his mark after performing well in a number of debates and even took aim at Sunak over his decision to raise National Insurance as Chancellor.
However, questions about the UK’s relationship with the ECHR have grown after the Strasbourg court appeared to halt the implementation of Sunak’s Rwanda plan.
Suella Braverman, Priti Patel and Robert Jenrick have all voiced support for leaving the ECHR.
James Cleverly appears to have followed a different path, with the Brexit-backing former Home Secretary instead vowing to “stand up” to the court’s decisions rather than favouring leaving the convention.