We risk being seen as the ‘nasty party’ again, warn senior Conservatives

Moderate Tories fear the party's attack on human rights will alienate many voters and damage the UK's global standing

The Conservatives risk being seen once again as the nasty party" by trying to win votes with a divisive attack on human rights, senior party figures have warned.

Rishi Sunak is under increasing pressure from his party this weekend over his pledge to stop the boats crossing the Channel. It follows another week that ended in Channel deaths after the capsizing of a boat, while the total number of people making the dangerous crossing since 2018 rose above the 100,000 mark.