RISHI Sunak has tonight promised to introduce “extraordinary” emergency legislation to stop foreign courts from blocking the deportation of illegal migrants from Britain to Rwanda.
The Prime Minister is trying to calm Tory MPs ready to launch an all-out revolt over the Supreme Court defeat.
2
Rishi Sunak holds a press conference after the Supreme Court blocked Rwanda’s deportation programCredit: Getty
2
New Home Secretary James Cleverly attended the Prime Minister’s press conference amid pressure from Tory MPs to find a Plan B to stop the boatsCredit: Getty
In a unanimous verdict this morning, the UK’s top judges ruled that Rwanda is NOT a safe third nation for the deportation of migrants.
The ruling had to take into account the rules of the European Court of Human Rights, which have strict rules on sending asylum seekers to third countries.
But racing out of the blocks, Mr Sunak stood by the £140m removal scheme and revealed he was working to strengthen the deal.
Addressing the nation from Downing Street, the Prime Minister said: “Today the Supreme Court ruled that Rwanda’s policies require a series of changes to be legal.
“I do not agree with this decision – but I respect and accept it. The rule of law is the foundation of our democracy.
“We have prepared for all outcomes of this case and therefore we have been working on a new international agreement with Rwanda.
“This will provide a legal guarantee that those who are relocated from the UK to Rwanda will be protected from deportation from Rwanda.
“And it will be clear that we will return everyone if the court orders it.
“We will complete the Treaty in light of today’s ruling and will ratify it without delay.”
The prime minister added: “Let me tell everyone now – I will not allow a foreign court to block these flights.
“If the Court in Strasbourg decides to intervene against the express wishes of the Parliament, I am ready to do what is necessary to cancel the flights.
“I will not take the easy way out.”
The deportation scheme in Rwanda at a glance
What did the Supreme Court say? The Supreme Court unanimously declared the Rwanda plan illegal. This is mainly due to the fact that under the existing agreement, an asylum seeker whose application was unsuccessful could be returned to the country to which he fled. Lord Reed said that this violates the European Convention on Human Rights, as well as various other UN treaties. What is Rishi Sunak’s plan now? Rishi Sunak wants to save the plan by striking a new deal with Rwanda that guarantees any migrant sent there will not be removed regardless of the outcome of their claim. He also announced “emergency legislation” to declare Rwanda a safe country in law to stop endless challenges in domestic courts. What about the ECHR? The prime minister warned of Eurojudge interference that he was “willing to do whatever it takes to get the flights” He suggested he would ignore orders from Strasbourg judges seeking to block flights to Rwanda. Rule 39 orders – known as “pajama bans” – see anonymous judges block flights at the last minute, as they did with the first planned removal last year. Mr Sunak said: “I will not allow a foreign court to block these flights.” What do Tory MPs think? A growing caucus of Tory MPs believes Britain should fully withdraw from the ECHR. Others like Suella Braverman think there should be powers to exclude Euro judges from all migration decisions. Mr Sunak will be hoping his tough talk will be enough to quell the unrest brewing in his ranks.
New Home Secretary James Cleverly appeared to rule out diluting ties with Strasbourg earlier today, telling restive MPs: “We will not be putting forward proposals just to create an unnecessary row for short-term political gain.”
Mr Sunak spoke to Rwandan President Paul Kagame this morning where both leaders “reiterated their strong commitment to making our migration partnership work and agreed to take the necessary steps to ensure it is a strong and legal policy and stop the boats as soon as possible. “
Under a new deal Britain wants to strike with Rwanda, even refugees who fail the asylum process will be given the legal right to settle there.
Whereas under the existing agreement, they could be sent back to their potentially unsafe homeland, which is a matter for the Supreme Court.
The defeat in the Supreme Court is a major blow to the Prime Minister’s promise to stop the boats ahead of next year’s expected general election.
Sir Keir Starmer went on the attack in the Commons, exploding: “The central pillar of his government has crumpled under him.”
Summarizing the judgment, Lord Reed, president of the Supreme Court, said all five judges agreed with the Court of Appeal that the Rwandan plan was illegal.
He told the court: “We are of the unanimous opinion that they had the right to reach that conclusion.
“Indeed, having gone through the evidence ourselves, we agree with their conclusion.”
Responding, a Rwandan government spokesman said: “Ultimately this is a decision of the British justice system.
“However, we challenge the decision that Rwanda is not a safe third country for asylum seekers and refugees, in terms of return.
“Rwanda and the UK are working together to ensure the integration of relocated asylum seekers into Rwandan society.”
New Home Secretary James Cleverly insisted that “there is clearly an appetite for this concept”.
He added: “Across Europe, illegal migration is on the rise and governments are following our lead – Italy, Germany and Austria are all exploring models similar to our partnership with Rwanda.”
TORY MP ANGER
This afternoon, sacked former home secretary Suella Braverman said the government must “legislate or admit defeat” as she called for measures to override the ECHR, the Human Rights Act and other “pathways of legal challenge”.
In an impassioned post on X, she said: “Today’s Supreme Court ruling is no surprise. It was predicted by many people close to the process. Given the current state of the law, there is no reason to criticize the judges. Instead, the government must introduce emergency laws.
“The Bill must block the ECHR, HRA and other avenues of legal challenge. This will give Parliament a clear choice: control illegal migration or explain to the British people why they should accept the increasing number of illegal immigrants settling here.
“Those who – like me – believe that effective immigration control is vital must realize that they cannot have their cake and eat it too: there is no way to curb illegal migration within the current legal framework. We must legislate or concede defeat.”
Former minister Sir Simon Clarke said the ruling raised the fundamental question of “who runs Britain”.
Threatening a full-scale Tory rebellion, he warned that the Prime Minister’s response tonight would be seen as a “matter of confidence”.
He demanded urgent laws that would override the Human Rights Act and warned that the entire Sunak administration risks collapsing.
Tory deputy leader Lee Anderson said the government should “ignore the law” and send migrants back the same day they arrive in the UK.
A Braverman ally said: “The stupidity of this is the predictability of it all.
“Suella repeatedly proposed a plan when she first became Home Secretary to have the option of offshoring British asylum in Rwanda, which would ensure this loss in the courts.
“But it was blocked by the magical thinkers in Number 10. They played roulette with the British public and just blindly counted on winning in court.”
The former minister said that a vote of confidence in the leadership of Sunak is now “very likely”
And fellow Tory Danny Kruger of the New Conservative group said the Supreme Court ruling could mean the end of the party.
The hastily arranged meeting was attended by senior Tories including Lord Frost and Sir Iain Duncan Smith.
Mr Kruger said: “This seems absolutely existential for our party.” We promised to stop the ships, we promised to take back control of our borders.
“What we saw today is that the court overturned that sovereign decision of the British people.
“And if this government will not step up and do everything the prime minister promised and will, there is no reason for the public to trust us again.
“So we absolutely have to respond to this in the strongest possible way.”
Kruger, who said the current legislation is not tough enough, added: “What needs to be done today in our view is to announce immediate legislative action to enforce the sovereign will of the public and indeed Parliament.”
Yesterday’s Number 10 claimed that ministers were considering potential outcomes and drawing up contingencies.
A spokesman for Mr Sunak said: “We have options for possible scenarios as you would expect.”
Categories: Optical Illusion
Source: HIS Education