The Conservatives are proposing to deport foreign criminals after they have served their prison sentences, including offenders convicted of any offence deemed more serious than a parking ticket.
The plan, being unveiled by Kemi Badenoch’s party ahead of its conference next week, is intended to increase annual deportations from about 6,000 to 40,000.
It would apply both to foreign nationals already in prison, who would be removed on release, and to those convicted of offences in future. Those affected would also be barred from claiming asylum under the proposals.
Chris Philp, the shadow home secretary, said: “We must deport all foreign criminals – it’s that simple. If someone comes to Britain and commits a crime, once jail time is served, they must go.
“Labour continues to let serious foreign criminals roam our streets, and many go on to commit more serious crimes. We will not apologise for putting the safety of the British public first.”
Under current law, foreign criminals are liable to deportation if they receive a sentence of at least 12 months. The Conservatives claim that legal challenges frustrate removals and allow people to remain in Britain despite having no right to do so.
The proposals would require the UK to leave the European Convention on Human Rights, which the party says is often used by lawyers to delay or prevent deportation flights.
They would also repeal or replace the Human Rights Act and modern slavery laws, described by the Conservatives as outdated. Ms Badenoch would additionally seek to remove the citizenship of dual nationals convicted of offences, in order to make deportation easier.
Countries refusing to accept the return of offenders could face visa sanctions and reductions in overseas aid under the plans.
The Conservatives estimate that 20,000 people who should be deported under existing rules have not been removed. They also want immigration checks to become part of routine police work to help identify people who are in Britain illegally.
The party is expected to set out a wider prison-building programme at its conference in Birmingham, with the aim of creating 50,000 additional prison places.
The measures form part of the Conservatives’ attempt to rebuild confidence on immigration after successive Conservative governments oversaw record arrivals. Recent polling has boosted the party’s support and put it ahead of Reform in projected seat numbers for the first time in two years.
The proposals are likely to face opposition from Labour, which is engaged in a dispute over planned immigration changes. Angela Rayner has described Shabana Mahmood’s proposal to make it harder for migrants to obtain citizenship as “unfair” and “un-British”.
A Government spokesperson said: “Any foreign national who receives a prison sentence in the UK is referred for deportation at the earliest opportunity and will be barred from ever returning.”
