Kemi Badenoch has moved to quell suggestions of a rift with James Cleverly over the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR) after bringing the former Home Secretary back into the shadow cabinet. Cleverly, who returned to the frontbench in a reshuffle yesterday, will shadow Angela Rayner on housing.
During broadcast interviews this morning, Cleverly stopped short of fully endorsing Badenoch's statement that she is 'increasingly of the view that we will need to leave' the ECHR. He said a review by the shadow attorney general was the right approach, adding that leaving the convention 'will not necessarily be a silver bullet'.
Pressed repeatedly on whether he agreed with the leader, Cleverly said he 'completely understands' her position and would wait for the review's conclusions. He noted that when he was Home Secretary, judges made 'completely perverse decisions' by leaning on the European court.
Badenoch later insisted the pair have 'always had the same position' on the ECHR, stating that leaving is an option if necessary but not a panacea. She said she would not have appointed Cleverly if they disagreed, and that the commission on the issue will report at party conference.
