Cameron at odds with senior cabinet members over human rights
Prime Minister David Cameron has refused to withdraw from the European Convention of Human Rights, a move opposed by Justice Secretary Michael Gove and Home Secretary Theresa May.
The difference of opinion is the first of its kind since the election and sees a reversal from the Conservatives' threats last year to pull out of the convention to allow the UK greater powers to deport criminals.
While Gove and May insist that doing so is the easiest way to re-establish the authority of the British courts over Strasbourg judges, Cameron has instead opted to remain a signatory to the convention, while scrapping the Human Rights Act as an aspect of British law.
Cameron has already come under fire from senior Tories for delaying the introduction of the British Bill of Rights, which will replace the Human Rights Act, for at least a year.
Philip Davies, a senior Tory MP, told The Telegraph: "It is very disappointing. The European Court of Human Rights is full of pseudo judges, most of whom are political appointees."
"The convention has become a charter for illegal immigrants to avoid deportation and for criminals to pursue vexatious claims. I have no idea why we would want to stay part of that," he added."
The Conservative manifesto pledged to "make our own Supreme Court the ultimate arbiter of human rights matters in the UK", but did not stipulate a departure from the convention.