Robert Jenrick faces backlash over special forces killing allegations

Tory leadership contender Robert Jenrick has defended his claim that British special forces are “killing terrorists rather than capturing them”.

The former immigration minister made the comment a video He launched his bid for leadership of the party.

The claims have drawn criticism during their party's annual conference from Conservative leadership rivals James Cleverly and Tom Stimmehat, both of whom have served in the army.

Tugendhat said the comments were “wrong” and showed a “misunderstanding of military operations and the law of armed conflict.”

“I am extremely concerned that such words should not be taken to encourage people to take action other than surrendering to British forces when asked to do so,” said Mr Stimmehat.

Cleverly said, Jenrick should justify his claims.

“The British military always adheres to international humanitarian law, the law of armed conflict,” Clevery said.

He added: “Our military does not murder people.”

In the video in which Jenrick made the claim, he called on the UK to withdraw from the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR).

The ECHR is a treaty that sets out the rights and freedoms to which people in contracting states are entitled.

The treaty is overseen by the European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg, France.

In the video, Jenrick said: “Our special forces kill terrorists instead of catching them because our lawyers tell us that if they are caught, the European court will release them.”

In an interview on BBC Radio 4's Today programme, Jenrick was asked what evidence he had to support his claims.

He said: “I have taken the position that our former Defense Secretary Ben Wallace took, which is that our human rights apparatus, including the ECtHR, is moving onto the battlefield.”

“And it influences the decisions of our generals and military decision-makers about what actions are necessary in these difficult situations.”

Asked if he was aware that special forces were killing terrorists rather than capturing them, Mr Jenrick said: “As Ben Wallace said in this interview, decision makers are being asked to make decisions they wouldn't normally make, for example the use of a drone.” to strike and thus take lethal measures.”

He added: “Of course I won’t go into detail about individual cases because no minister can talk about these things, these cases.”

In an article last yearWallace – the former defense secretary – claimed human rights laws including the ECHR had become a serious threat to national security.

He told the Telegraph: “When we have a threat to the UK, this madness of not being able to move people across borders or arresting people in countries whose police forces are unacceptable means that we are forced to take lethal measures more often than actual.” Raids and arrests.

The role of the ECHR has long been the subject of intense debate within the Conservative Party.

MPs on the right of the party are increasingly blaming the convention for allowing failed asylum seekers to challenge their deportation from the UK.

Jenrick and former home secretary Suella Braverman are among those who have called for Britain to withdraw from the treaty to prevent this.

But other Tories are against it.

It was a dividing line between the leadership candidates at the party conference in Birmingham.

On Monday, fellow party leadership candidate Kemi Badenoch warned party members that leaving the ECtHR would not address “the root of the problem”, saying it could lead to a Brexit-style “litigation”.

She did not rule out withdrawing from the treaty, but argued that deporting more rejected asylum seekers should be a priority.