Brexit: Michael Gove and Theresa May clash over human rights

Britain's justice secretary Michael Gove has slapped down home secretary Theresa May's call for Britain to leave the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR) but remain in the European Union.

Mr Gove and his junior minister Dominic Raab, who want Britain to leave the EU, said Britain would have to remain in the ECHR.

“Both of us believe that we should remain within the European Convention on Human Rights. Both of us also recognise that a far greater threat to our liberty and sovereignty is the European Court of Justice, which he [Raab] has described as an institution that is ‘predatory’ and often inimical to Britain’s interests,” Mr Gove said.

As opposition MPs accused the government of incoherence over the ECHR, Independent Unionist Sylvia Hermon said she was horrified by the suggestion that Britain should leave the convention.

"After 30-plus years of appalling violence in Northern Ireland, the Belfast Agreement signed on Good Friday [1998] was hard won after hard negotiations, and the European Convention on Human Rights was an integral part of that agreement," she said.

“It was voted on in two referendums, in Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland, by thousands and thousands of people,” she said.

Irish citizens

Irish-born businessman

Niall Fitzgerald

, former head of

Unilever

, warned yesterday that Irish citizens entitled to vote in the referendum had a responsibility to do all they can to ensure that Britain remains in the EU.

"I urge all of us to see it as our personal and collective responsibility to encourage everyone who has a vote to be sure to use it, and use it so that Britain can resume its role as a leader in Europe.

"The UK should be leading, not leaving," he told a meeting at Westminster organised by the British Irish Chamber of Commerce and the Irish International Business Network.

The former chief of Unilever and patron of the British Irish Chamber of Commerce spoke of the detrimental impact a possible Brexit could have on British-Irish relations for business.

Co-dependence

“The depth of the relationship between Britain and Ireland can be explained, not only by our common language, shared history, values and culture, but also by our economic co-dependence, because, in real terms, Britain and Ireland are joined at the economic hip,” he said.

"We want to see the United Kingdom remain in a reformed and strengthened European Union."

Opinion polls show the referendum too close to call and the first polls conducted since US president Barack Obama called for a Remain vote last week show a slight increase in support for the Leave side.