Sunak will press for overhaul of European human rights court to stop it blocking deportations

Rishi Sunak will use a meeting with European leaders to urge his counterparts to overhaul the powers of the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) to prevent it from blocking his hardline asylum legislation.

At the Council of Europe Summit in Iceland on Tuesday, the Prime Minister will address European leaders on the issue of human rights challenges.

But he will use the meeting to call for reform of the ECHR’s rule 39 process – the tool used by the Strasbourg court to block the UK government from deporting asylum seekers to Rwanda.

Mr Sunak said it was “very clear that our current international system is not working” as he prepared to lobby leaders, including the president of the court, Síofra O’Leary, to reform its powers in order to get his Illegal Migration Bill over the line.

The controversial legislation is designed to reduce the number of small boats crossing the Channel by deporting those who do to Rwanda and banning them from claiming asylum or returning to the country.

Rule 39 allows the court’s judges to impose “interim measures” in cases where there is considered “an imminent risk of irreparable harm” on human rights grounds.

The orders allow the ECHR to impose injunctions, pending further legal proceedings, to suspend a deportation or extradition of someone who fears persecution.

But Downing Street said there was a need to “ensure we have an international legal system which allows sovereign countries to take the domestic steps necessary to help those most in need”, which would mean reforming the power of the court to impose such injunctions.

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No 10 said Mr Sunak wanted to change the system to allow for “proper transparency, greater accountability and ensuring decisions can be reconsidered”.

Mr Sunak will make the comments at an opening address before attending bilateral meetings with some leaders.

It comes off the back of several recent meetings with leaders from across Europe, including France, Italy and Albania, with the PM attempting to “drive forward progress” on his stalled planned to stop small boat crossings.

Ahead of the summit, Mr Sunak said: “It is very clear that our current international system is not working, and our communities and the world’s most vulnerable people are paying the price.

“We need to do more to co-operate across borders and across jurisdictions to end illegal migration and stop the boats.

“I am clear that as an active European nation with a proud history helping those in need, the UK will be at the heart of this.”