Tory leadership contender Robert Jenrick has stood firm on his assertion that British special forces are “killing rather than capturing terrorists.”

The former immigration minister made the controversial remark in a video promoting his campaign for the party's leadership. His comments have drawn criticism from fellow Tory leadership contenders James Cleverly and Tom Tugendhat, both of whom have military backgrounds.

When asked if he still supported his statement about the conduct of special forces, Jenrick responded affirmatively to activists in Birmingham, saying, “I do.”

At the conference, Jenrick expressed concerns that human rights laws could hinder British forces from executing operations similar to the one that led to the killing of Osama bin Laden by the United States. “That's wrong,” he asserted. “I don’t want our human rights framework to obstruct the right operational decisions for our national security.”

Tugendhat expressed his anger over Jenrick's remarks, describing them as a “very serious accusation.” He stated that such claims reflect “a fundamental lack of awareness of military operations, the command chain, and the nature of the law within the armed forces.” He further noted that discussions with a recently retired director of special forces revealed widespread disappointment regarding suggestions that their conduct might not align with the values and standards of the British armed forces. "This is a very serious accusation, and if you do not have evidence, please do not make it," he added.

Cleverly emphasized that Jenrick should substantiate his claims, stating, “The British military always abides by international humanitarian law, the law of armed conflict.” He further asserted, “Our military do not murder people.”

In the same video where Jenrick made his claim, he advocated for the UK to withdraw from the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR), a treaty that outlines the rights and freedoms of individuals in member countries and is overseen by the European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg, France.