Rishi Sunak’s ‘second Brexit’ could save the Tories

There have been two major reactions to reports that Rishi Sunak is ready to take Britain out of the European Convention on Human Rights if that’s what it takes to solve the small boats issue in the Channel.

The first, common among denizens of the Westminster village, is surprise that an outwardly conventional product of the system would even contemplate such a radical move. The second, prevalent among disenchanted former Tory voters on social media, is a diamond-hard cynicism that tells them they are being conned again and he will never do it. After 13 consecutive years of Conservative failure to get on top of immigration – either legal or illegal – despite numerous airy promises that overall volumes will come down and those arriving on dinghies will be ‘sent back’ this is quite understandable.

But circumstances are very different now and Sunak’s approach is far more strategic and clear-eyed than Boris Johnson’s ever was.