Robert Jenrick faces backlash over special forces killing claim

Tory leadership candidate Robert Jenrick has defended his assertion that British special forces are focused on eliminating terrorists instead of capturing them.

The ex-immigration minister shared his thoughts in a video to promote his campaign for the party leadership.

During their party's annual conference, Tory leadership contenders James Cleverly and Tom Tugendhat, both of whom have military backgrounds, were among those who spoke out against Jenrick's remarks.

When questioned about his assertions regarding the behavior of special forces, Jenrick responded to the activists in Birmingham, saying, “I do.”

While addressing the audience at a conference, Jenrick mentioned that human rights legislation would pose challenges for British troops in carrying out an operation akin to the one the United States executed to eliminate or apprehend Osama bin Laden.

"That's incorrect," Jenrick stated.

"I don’t want our system for protecting human rights to hinder us from making the necessary decisions for our national security."

Tugendhat expressed his frustration at Jenrick's remarks, stating that the claim is a "grave accusation" and reflects a "basic misunderstanding of military operations, the chain of command, and the legal framework governing the armed forces."

He shared with the BBC that he had a conversation with a recently retired special forces director, expressing that many individuals are very frustrated with the idea that their actions might not align with the principles and standards of the British military.

The ex-soldier stated, "This is a serious allegation, and if you lack proof, I urge you not to make such claims."

Jenrick needs to back up what he's saying with solid evidence.

"Cleverly stated that the British military consistently follows international humanitarian law and the regulations governing armed conflict."

He stated, "Our armed forces do not kill innocent people."

In the video where Jenrick expressed his views, he advocated for the United Kingdom to withdraw from the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR).

The ECHR is an agreement that outlines the rights and liberties that individuals have in member countries.

The European Court of Human Rights, located in Strasbourg, France, is responsible for monitoring the treaty.

In the video, Jenrick explained, "Our special forces are opting to eliminate terrorists instead of capturing them because our legal advisors warn us that if these individuals are apprehended, the European court will likely release them."

During an interview on BBC Radio 4's Today show, Jenrick was questioned about the proof he had to support his assertions.

He mentioned, "The argument I'm trying to convey aligns with what our previous defense secretary, Ben Wallace, has pointed out: that our human rights framework, including the European Court of Human Rights, is starting to intrude upon military operations."

"This is influencing the choices that our generals and military leaders are making regarding the necessary actions to take in these challenging circumstances."

When asked if he was aware that special forces were eliminating terrorists instead of capturing them, Mr. Jenrick responded: "As Ben Wallace mentioned in that interview, those in charge are being required to make choices they wouldn’t typically consider, such as ordering a drone strike that results in deadly consequences."

He remarked, "I won't go into detail about specific instances because these matters are not something any minister can discuss."

The former defense secretary, Grant Shapps, who is leading Cleverly's campaign, stated that during his tenure at the Ministry of Defence, he found "no proof whatsoever" to support Jenrick's assertion.

In an interview with BBC 5 Live, he mentioned that Jenrick was considering a more general worry regarding the ECHR, but he pointed out that the matter wasn't as straightforward as Jenrick depicted it.

Tory MP Bob Seely, who supports Kemi Badenoch for the position of party leader, stood by Jenrick's remarks, stating that they were "accurate."

In a social media update, former serviceman Seely, who has experience in Iraq and Afghanistan, expressed that the Ministry of Defence's apprehension about human rights lawyers and the European Court of Human Rights has made it "simpler to launch airstrikes than to detain individuals or hold them accountable."

In a piece published last year, Wallace, the former Secretary of State for Defence, argued that human rights legislation, such as the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR), poses a significant threat to national security.

In an interview with the Telegraph, he stated, "When there's a danger to the UK, this ridiculous situation where we can't extradite individuals across borders or apprehend people in countries with unreliable police forces forces us to resort to lethal measures instead of simply conducting raids and making arrests."

The function of the ECHR has been a subject of heated discussion within the Conservative Party for a considerable time.

Members of Parliament on the conservative side of the party have increasingly criticized the convention for allowing unsuccessful asylum seekers to contest their deportation from the UK.

Jenrick and ex-home secretary Suella Braverman are some of the individuals advocating for the UK to exit the treaty in order to prevent this situation.

However, some members of the Conservative Party disagree with this.

It has created a clear distinction among the leadership contenders at the party's gathering in Birmingham.

On Monday, fellow leadership candidate Badenoch cautioned party members that exiting the ECHR wouldn't solve "the core issue." She suggested that it could lead to lengthy legal disputes similar to those experienced during Brexit.

While she didn't dismiss the idea of withdrawing from the treaty, she emphasized that focusing on deporting more unsuccessful asylum seekers should come first.

Jenrick and Cleverly spoke at the Tory conference on the main stage during a lengthy question and answer segment on Tuesday afternoon.

Skillfully utilized the occasion to justify his previous performance as home secretary.

When asked why he chose to stay in his position despite disagreeing with the government's stance on migration—unlike his leadership opponent Jenrick—he responded, “I want to get things done. I don’t avoid challenges; I confront them head-on.”

He smartly pointed out that he had implemented visa reforms that cut net migration by 300,000 individuals annually. Additionally, he shared a strategy to make the Rwanda initiative effective in discouraging small boat crossings.