has said that the European Convention on Human Rights has become a "sword" to "attack democratic decisions". The Tory leader also warned "Britain is being mugged" and the asylum system is "completley broken".

Speaking in Westminster, she said: "Britain is being mugged. Our asylum system is completely broken and will require a fundamental rebuild, so that the British government and not people traffickers control it."

She added: "The ECHR is now being used in ways never intended by its original authors. It should be a shield to protect, instead, it's become a sword, a sword used to attack democratic decisions and common sense. This use of litigation as a political weapon is what I am calling lawfare. It isn't just damaging our security, it's also damaging our prosperity."

Mrs Badenoch is giving a major speech as she launches the Tory fightback against Reform UK and Labour. The Conservative leader will set up a review that will look into whether the UK should withdraw from the ECHR in order to get a grip on illegal immigration.

It comes as the Tories are facing a major challenge from Nigel Farage's Reform UK which is surging ahead in the polls.