Rwanda Supreme Court ruling LIVE: Cleverly says plan B ‘is ready’ as Sunak unveils effort to save scheme

Prime Minister vows to stop ‘foreign courts’ blocking flights amid pledges to get planes in air by spring

Sunak to introduce emergency legislation to revive Rwanda plan

James Cleverly has revealed the government’s plan B is “ready”, as a rattled Rishi Sunak has unveiled a last-ditch effort to save his flagship illegal migration policy to deport asylum seekers to Rwanda.

After the Supreme Court ruled the policy is unlawful, the home secretary told Sky News the government’s backup plan to get the Rwanda scheme off the ground is “pretty much ready”.

Meanwhile, the prime minister said he would introduce emergency legislation to stop “foreign courts”, such as the European Court of Human Rights, from blocking flights to Kigali as he vowed to get planes in the air by spring next year.

Speaking at a press conference on Wednesday afternoon, he said ministers would draw up a new treaty with Rwanda and make changes to domestic law to “remove the obstacles in our way” and address the Supreme Court’s concerns that the east African country is not safe for asylum seekers.

It comes as Sir Keir Starmer said Mr Sunak should apologise to the country for blowing £140m on the failed scheme. “He has wasted all of his time on a gimmick and now he is absolutely nowhere,” the Labour leader said.

Key Points

• Sunak: I’ll introduce emergency legislation to revive Rwanda plan
• Sunak’s Rwanda plan in tatters after Supreme Court rules it unlawful
• Rishi Sunak: ‘This was not the outcome we wanted… but we will stop the boats’
• Rwanda asylum plan: Timeline of government’s policy to deport migrants

[16 November 2023 07:00 · Matt Mathers]

ICYMI: Sunak’s Rwanda plan in tatters after Supreme Court judges rule it unlawful

Rishi Sunak‘s flagship plan to deport asylum seekers to Rwanda is in tatters after the Supreme Court ruled it is unlawful.

The UK’s highest court ruled on Wednesday that flights will not be able to go ahead in a blow to the prime minister’s key pledge to cut immigration to the UK.

Full report:

[16 November 2023 07:24 · Tara Cobham]

International treaty with Rwanda would take days, says Home Secretary

Home Secretary James Cleverly said an international treaty with Rwanda and emergency domestic laws would take days rather than weeks.

The measures are aimed at making the Rwanda plan legally watertight following the Government’s Supreme Court defeat.

Mr Cleverly told Times Radio: “We’ve got a memorandum of understanding which we’re going to upgrade to a treaty. That can be done very, very quickly because we have been working on it for some time.

“And the Prime Minister has committed to making sure that we get this emergency legislation into the House quickly.”

That process can be “a very speedy one”, measured in sitting days rather than weeks.

“The whole process won’t necessarily be done and dusted just in a few days, but the actual parliamentary process can be that quick.”

UK Home Secretary James Cleverly looks on as Britain's Prime Minister Rishi Sunak holds a press conference on Wednesday, following the Supreme Court’s Rwanda policy judgement (Getty Images)

[16 November 2023 07:35 · Archie Mitchell, Political Correspondent]

Cleverly denies calling Rwanda plan bats***

James Cleverly has denied privately calling the government’s Rwanda deportation plan “bats***”.

The home secretary told Sky News: “I don't recognise that phrase and the point I am making at the despatch box is that the Rwanda scheme is an important part, but only a part, of the range of responses we have to illegal migration.”

Shadow home secretary Yvette Cooper on Wednesday claimed Mr Cleverly privately used the expletive to describe the immigration scheme.

Ms Cooper told MPs of Suella Braverman’s successor: “I don't believe the new Home Secretary ever believed in the Rwanda plan. He distanced himself from it and his predecessor's language on it. He may even, on occasion, have privately called it batshit.”

[16 November 2023 07:37 · Archie Mitchell, Political Correspondent]

Border control ‘has never been free’, claims Cleverly

James Cleverly has brushed off questions about the £140m+ bill for Britain’s failed Rwanda asylum plan, claiming “border control is not free”.

The new home secretary told Sky News: “Whether you do it here in the UK, or with partners internationally, it has never been free. But the point is, it is working.”

Mr Cleverly was asked about the money Britain has handed Rwanda so far, with the government’s plan B set to add to the bill.

He added: “Small boat numbers are down, returns to countries are up, we are bucking the trend compared with other countries in Europe.”

UK Home Secretary James Cleverly attends a press conference held by Britain's Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, following the Supreme Court’s Rwanda policy judgement (Getty Images)

[16 November 2023 07:41 · Tara Cobham]

Government ‘absolutely determined’ to send Rwanda flight before election

James Cleverly said the Government was “absolutely determined” to get a flight to Rwanda in the air before the general election expected next year.

Asked to guarantee that would be the case, the Home Secretary told Times Radio: “We’re absolutely determined to make that happen.”

But he admitted “the timescales that we are looking at can vary depending on circumstances”.

“We are working to get this done as quickly as possible,” he said.

James Cleverly said the Government was “absolutely determined” to get a flight to Rwanda in the air before the general election expected next year (PA Wire)

[16 November 2023 07:42 · Tara Cobham]

Row over pulling out of ECHR is ‘a distraction’, says Cleverly

Home Secretary James Cleverly said the row about whether to pull out of the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR) was a distraction.

He told Times Radio: “Our preferred option is to remain in the ECHR.”

The Supreme Court had made the point “there are a number of international treaties which are relevant” in the Rwanda case.

“This is a distracting conversation,” he said.

“I get it is of interest, legitimate interest, but the point I have made is I, the Prime Minister, the Government, will not be distracted from focusing on what we have been told by the Supreme Court judges needs to be fixed in order to get this out of the way.”

[16 November 2023 07:45 · Tara Cobham]

Cleverly rejects Anderson’s suggestion law should be ignored over Rwanda

Home Secretary James Cleverly distanced the Government from Tory deputy chairman Lee Anderson’s suggestion the law should simply be ignored over the Rwanda ruling.

Mr Cleverly told Times Radio: “I’ve listened to what he said. I disagree with the point he’s made.

“This is how politics works. I don’t always agree with all my friends and colleagues.

“But the simple point is the Prime Minister, I, the Government are clear and unambiguous. We play by the rules.”

He said Mr Anderson was “expressing the frustration that a lot of people feel” but “we are a law-abiding country, a law-abiding government”.

Britain's Home Secretary James Cleverly speaking during a statement on the Government's Plan for Illegal Immigration in the House of Commons on Wednesday (PA Wire)

[16 November 2023 07:58 · Tara Cobham]

Watch: James Cleverly says Rwanda treaty can be done in days, not weeks

[16 November 2023 08:28 · Tara Cobham]

Watch: New Foreign Secretary David Cameron meets Zelensky

[16 November 2023 08:48 · Tara Cobham]

Cleverly refuses to apologise for money spent on Rwanda scheme

James Cleverly said he would not apologise for the amount of money spent on the Rwanda scheme.

Asked how much more would be spent, beyond the £140 million already committed, the Home Secretary told LBC: “I’m going to be really clear on this. I make no apology at all for spending money protecting this nation. It is the primary function of government.

“We know that even before the first flight has taken off the Rwanda policy is having a deterrent effect.

“We interview people that have attempted to come here through illegal migration and we know that people have been dissuaded from coming to the UK because of the fear of Rwanda scheme.”