Britain leaving ECHR would be ‘catastrophic’, says development minister

Andrew Mitchell says departure, pushed by some in cabinet to allow for Rwanda plan, is ‘incredibly unlikely’

The UK’s departure from the European convention on human rights would be catastrophic and is extremely unlikely, the development minister, Andrew Mitchell said, as he launched plans designed to show the UK was back as a global leader on development.

His remarks put him at odds with those in the cabinet who have said they are prepared to leave the ECHR if it is necessary to push through plans to send refugees arriving in the UK on boats to countries such as Rwanda.