May plans to toughen immigration rules

THERESA May will order a crackdown on the “abuse” of human rights laws that is stopping foreign criminals being deported, according to reports.

The Home Secretary is planning to introduce tougher immigration rules by the summer, a Sunday newspaper said.

She has pledged to stop all but the most “exceptional cases” succeeding on appeal after becoming convinced that tougher controls were needed to prevent criminals using the “right to a family life” – under Article 8 of the European Convention on Human Rights – to stay in Britain and continue to pose a threat.

“It’s been causing a lot of concern, not just to the government but also to an awful lot of members of the public,” she told the newspaper.

“By the summer, we will have in place new immigration rules which I believe will end that abuse.”

Mrs May is expected to direct judges rather than introducing fresh legislation but concedes the move may be challenged.

She added: “If it doesn’t, if it’s tested in the courts and we find there’s a problem, we’ll obviously look at other measures but I’m confident in what we’re proposing to do.”