Jonathan Brash: A Labour MP’s Bold Stand on Deportation and the ECHR...
- teessidetoday
- Mar 26
- 6 min read
Jonathan Brash’s Bold Stance on Deporting Foreign Criminals Sets Hartlepool MP at Odds with Labour Over the ECHR...
26th March 2025
In move that's reportedly sent ripples through Westminster, Jonathan Brash, the Labour MP for Hartlepool, has made national headlines with a statement calling for the government to set aside the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR) to deport foreign criminals potentially putting the Labour MP in the firing line of his own parties pro-immigration stance...
Elected in 2024 to represent a formally Labour-leaning "Red Wall" seat, Brash’s comments are said to mark a significant departure from the party’s usual stance on human rights and immigration—potentially positioning him as either a maverick on a collision course with Labour leadership, or a shrewd contender, potentially eyeing a future leadership bid.
The Revelation: A Call to Deport Foreign Criminals
This week, Brash publicly urged ministers to exercise what he called a “perfectly legitimate” right to deport convicted foreign criminals, arguing that the ECHR’s Article 8—guaranteeing the right to family life—should not stand in the way.
Speaking on GB News, he declared, “I don’t think it’s a particularly controversial view to say that if our government wants to deport a foreign criminal, they should be able to… If someone is a danger to the public in this country, they should be deported. It’s as simple as that.” This stance comes amid growing frustration over cases where foreign offenders have avoided deportation by citing ECHR protections, such as the now-infamous Albanian criminal whose son reportedly disliked foreign chicken nuggets.
Brash, who's said to sit within a faction of the Labour Party that emphasises traditional working-class values and tougher stances on issues like immigration—appears to be tapping into a sentiment that's beginning to resonate strongly in constituencies such as Hartlepool. These former "Red Wall" areas, which flipped from Labour to Conservative in recent years before returning to Labour in 2024, are often more socially conservative and sceptical of supranational institutions like the ECHR. His statement is also said to align with a broader discontent amongst some Labour MPs, particularly those in seats which have been threatened by Nigel Farage’s Reform UK (who came a close second in Hartlepool in the 2024 General Election), & see the ECHR as a barrier to delivering on voter demands for stricter immigration control.
The ECHR: A Thorn in Labour’s Side?
The European Convention on Human Rights has long been a polarising issue in British politics. Whilst it’s not tied to the European Union (meaning Brexit didn’t affect the UK’s obligations under it), its influence on immigration and asylum cases in the UK has fuelled calls for reform—or even withdrawal.
Brash’s remarks spotlight increasing tension's within the Labour party on how to balance its historic commitment to human rights with the pragmatic need to address voter concerns about border security and public safety.
Home Secretary Yvette Cooper has already signalled a willingness to review how Article 8 is applied in immigration courts, aiming for a “sensible” and “proportionate” interpretation. Brash’s position, however, goes one further, suggesting the government should outright bypass the ECHR when its necessary to do so. This puts him at odds with Labour’s leadership under Keir Starmer, who has so far resisted calls to abandon the convention entirely, preferring a more cautious approach to reform. Former Labour Home Secretary Jack Straw recently questioned the ECHR’s “utility,” but Starmer has yet to signal a dramatic shift, leaving Brash’s outspokenness as a potential flashpoint.
Could we be seeing the beginnings of Brash's leadership bid ?
Brash’s comments raise an intriguing question: is he setting himself up for a clash with his own party, or is he laying the groundwork for something bigger?
As a relatively new MP, having won Hartlepool back from the Conservatives in 2024 with 46.2% of the vote, Brash is still establishing his political identity. His background as a former teacher and long-time local councillor for Hartlepool Borough Council, combined with his deep ties to the town—he’s a lifelong resident raising his family there—gives him a grounded, relatable persona that could appeal beyond his constituency. This, as well as claims the former Hartlepool Labour MP Peter Mandelson is in regular 'meetings' with the town Labour MP has led to claims he's being quietly 'coached' for a more prominent role in UK Politics, with some suggesting he could be being fronted as a potential leadership candidate following claims Labour Leader Keir Starmer & the UK Chancellor Rachael Reeves could be ousted by the Autumn if the economy takes a further battering.
Brash's rhetoric echoes the kind of plain-spoken, common-sense politics that's fuelled the rise of figures like Nigel Farage. By staking out a hard line on deporting foreign criminals, Brash may be testing the waters to see how much support exists within his own Labour’s ranks—and amongst voters—for a tougher, more populist stance.
Posts on X reflect both a mix of surprise and approval from some quarters, with users noting that “even Labour MPs are saying it” and praising his “common sense.” This suggests he’s striking a chord with a public frustrated by what's seen by many as perceived legal loopholes.
Yet, this move risks alienating Brash against Labour’s so called 'progressive wing', which views the ECHR as a cornerstone of post-war human rights protections. The party’s left flank, already uneasy with Starmer’s centrist pivot, could see Brash as a provocateur undermining Labour’s values. A briefing organised by fellow Labour MP Dan Carden with a leading barrister on ECHR issues hints at a growing internal debate, but Brash’s public break from the leadership line could make him a lightning rod for criticism—or a rallying point for like-minded MPs.
A Leadership Contender in the Making?
At 43, Brash is young enough to be a long-term player in Labour politics. His seemingly 'Blue Labour affiliation' aligns him with a faction that, whilst not particularly dominant, does have influence in "Red Wall" areas where Labour must hold ground if it wants to maintain power. If he’s indeed eyeing leadership, his most recent statement could be a calculated gamble to build a distinct profile: a working-class champion unafraid to challenge party orthodoxy and speak directly to voters’ concerns. His repeated emphasis on putting “Hartlepool first, country second, party third” (as stated in a January 2025 Hartlepool Mail piece) reinforces this image of independence and local loyalty, however Brash's tenure as MP has been tested lately, particularly due to controversial support of Winter fuel Payment cuts & potential support to the cuts to welfare spending in the Spring Statement..
However, leadership ambitions would almost certainly require broader support within the parliamentary party and the membership, where his views might be seen to be 'too divisive'. For now, Brash’s collision course with Starmer seems more likely to position him as a vocal backbencher pushing Labours 'lacklustre' leadership to act—rather than any immediate threat. Still, in a party grappling with its identity post-Brexit and amidst rising populist pressures, his willingness to break ranks could foreshadow a future bid if the political winds shift.
A Line in the Sand
Jonathan Brash’s call to sidestep the ECHR and deport foreign criminals is more than a policy stance—it’s a bold statement of intent. Whether he’s destined to clash with Labour’s leadership or emerge as a dark-horse contender, his words have certainly ignited a debate that doesn't look like its set to fade any time soon. For Hartlepool, it seems Brash is amplifying local frustrations; for Labour, he seems to be a test of how far the party can stretch to accommodate its diverse coalition.
As the dust settles, one thing is clear: Brash has drawn a line in the sand, and where it leads could actually reshape Labour’s future.
