Tugendhat slams Tory rivals for claiming British special forces would 'kill terrorists rather than capture them' | Conservative leadership

Former British security minister Tom Stimmehat has criticized a claim by one of his Conservative leadership rivals that British special forces were “killing rather than capturing” terror suspects, saying the remark showed a “fundamental misunderstanding” of the laws of war.

Robert Jenrick, the former immigration secretary, defended his claim on Tuesday, saying it echoed comments made by former defense secretary Ben Wallace, who expressed fears that European laws would release all jailed attackers.

In a campaign video released on Monday

Tugendhat told Sky News he did not think this was the case: “I think what he said is wrong and I'm afraid it shows a fundamental misunderstanding of military operations and the law of armed conflict.”

“I am deeply 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.”

Jenrick told BBC Radio 4's Today program that he stood by the comments. “The point Ben Wallace made [in a Telegraph interview] was that there are cases in which the [European convention on human rights] forces or leads the decision-makers…to take deadly measures.

“Decision makers have to make decisions that they normally wouldn’t make. For example, calling for a drone strike and taking lethal measures instead of conducting a surgical operation where special forces could be on site.

“What I don’t want to see is our human rights apparatus compromising the ability of our armed forces to make the most sensible decisions for their own security. The point I made was absolutely correct and is supported by the interview.”

Jenrick was also criticized by another rival in the Tory leadership, shadow home secretary James Cleverly, who told Sky News: “The British military always adheres to international humanitarian law – the law of armed conflict.” We have… the most professional military in the world. Our military doesn’t murder people.”

Former Defense Secretary Grant Shapps also said it was wrong for Jenrick to make this claim. “With regard to special forces, that is not true. I haven’t seen any evidence of that at all,” he told BBC Radio 5 Live.

He said Jenrick was trying to “think about a broader concern… maybe it will create a problem in the back of people's minds. But to be clear: as defense secretary I have seen no evidence of that at all.”

Jenrick has been criticized by a range of legal and military experts, as well as Labor sources. Dominic Grieve, the former attorney general for England and Wales, wrote on X that the claims were “one of the most astonishing videos I have ever seen from a Conservative MP, let alone a leadership candidate.”

He added: “Most of it is nonsense, a series of promises of change that leaving the ECHR will deliver nothing.”

A former senior army officer said: “This is a cheap claim and comes at a time when the force continues to face scrutiny over claims of killings abroad and in Northern Ireland. “He needs to set the record straight.”

A Labor source called on Jenrick to apologise. “Robert Jenrick’s ridiculous attempt to politicize our special forces shows how far the Tories have fallen. He should apologize. Our brave servicemen and women deserve better.”

Jenrick, a former ally of Rishi Sunak, is the frontrunner of four candidates in the Conservative leadership race.

All four will speak at the party conference in Birmingham on Wednesday morning before MPs select the final two candidates on October 10.