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
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Your support makes all the difference.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.
Tory MPs calling for ‘notwithstanding’ legislation are ‘living in a fantasy world’ - Grieve
Tory MPs who think the government can press ahead with the Rwanda plan by applying “notwithstanding” legislation are “living in a fantasy world”, a former attorney general has said.
Dominic Grieve, the former Tory MP who served as attorney general under David Cameron, said the UK can not “simply override its international obligations whenever it suits it without consequence.”
“You can do it, but it is equivalent to breaching our ECHR obligations,” he told Bloomberg after the Supreme Court ruled that the government plan to deport asylum seekers and migrants to Rwanda was unlawful, adding any such move would end up in the courts in Europe.
When the Supreme Court handed down its ruling earlier one of its five judges, Lord Reed, pointed out that the UK’s obligations on asylum seekers stretched well beyond the ECHR to the United Nations.
‘My duty to do it for other people'
One of the asylum seekers that the government tried to send to Rwanda in June 2022 has told The Independent that he “was so happy” at the news that their deportation plans had failed, Holly Bancroft reports.
He called on Rishi Sunak’s government to process his asylum claim and those of other migrants who he said are “living in limbo” waiting on their decisions.
He was in the Supreme Court, along with charity Care4Calais, when the decision was announced and he said he could tell by the body language of those around him that his claim against the government had succeeded. Speaking through a translator, he said he was “proud” to be part of the legal action against the government and “it was my duty to do it for all the other people”.
“Most of the people seeking asylum are the same, they are fleeing persecution and war. They just want a peaceful life and I feel like I have a duty to fight for those people. I didn’t feel scared challenging the government. I have lived in war before and I feel proud to do this,” he said.
He added: “I was inside the court among the legal team. The moment I heard the decision I was shocked. I realised the decision because the people around me were very happy and I might have cried but it’s hard to remember. Even now, I’m still not 100 per cent absorbing what has happened.”
James Cleverly refuses to say if LGBT asylum seekers are pretending
James Cleverly has refused to say if he agrees with Suella Braverman that LGBT asylum seekers are making it up.
The home secretary was asked by Labour MP Ben Bradshaw whether he stood by his predecessor’s remarks.
Mr Cleverly said: “If the honourable gentleman wants to know my views on things, he can ask me my views on things rather than asking me to comment on other people’s.”
Cleverly unable to give timeline on new treaty
James Cleverly was unable to set out a timeline for the Rwanda plan going forward after Rishi Sunak promised to update the UK’s treaty with the east Africa country.
Speaking in the Commons, Dr Caroline Johnson said her constituents were disappointed by the court’s ruling and asked the home secretary about upgrading the treaty and how long that move could take.
“I understand his plan is to upgrade the treaty with Rwanda, can he advise the House how long will that take? Will that be potentially subject to legal challenge? And if so, how long could those legal challenges take?” she said.
Mr Cleverly said he was not able to give certainty on timelines, and added: “I wish that I could.”
Well done for bringing down inflation, Rishi – now for the hard bit
As the inflation rate shrinks by half, the PM has made good on one of his ‘five priorities’ for the year. Yes, he got lucky, writes James Moore, but he deserves some credit, too
Well done for bringing down inflation, Rishi – now for the hard bit
As the inflation rate shrinks by half, the PM has made good on one of his ‘five priorities’ for the year. Yes, he got lucky, writes James Moore, but he deserves some credit, too
Boost for millions as landlords to be banned from refusing certain renters
Landlords will be banned from refusing to rent properties to people who are on benefits or those with children under Government plans.
Amendments tabled on Wednesday to the Renters (Reform) Bill are aimed at ensuring families are not discriminated against and the vulnerable protected, the Government said.
However, landlords will still be able to carry out reference checks to establish rent affordability and “have the final say on who they let their property to”.
Boost for millions as landlords to be banned from refusing certain renters
Amendments to the Renters (Reform) Bill aim to prevent discrimination by landlords
PMQs: Sunak bashes Starmer for 2019 comments saying Corbyn ‘would make a great PM’
Lord Cameron: We must do whatever is needed to ‘stop the boats'
Foreign secretary Lord David Cameron said “we must do whatever is needed” to “stop the boats”.
He said: “Securing our borders is a fundamental duty of government.
“We must stop the boats and tackle illegal migration. This is a priority for the British people.
“That is why we must do whatever is needed.”
Justice secretary: we remain committed to stopping the boats
Justice secretary Alex Chalk has said he respects the Supreme Court’s ruling that the Rwanda deportation plan is unlawful but that the government remains committed to “stopping the boats”.
“Respecting the rule of law means respecting the impartial judgments of our independent courts,” he wrote on X. “Judges apply the law without fear or favour - a longstanding principle of our democratic constitution.
“This government is absolutely committed to stopping the boats, and we will continue to work to deliver on this promise for the British people”.
Suella Braverman: ‘Legislate or admit defeat’
Suella Braverman has said the Supreme Court’s judgment on Wednesday was “no surprise” and was “predicted by a number of people close to the process”, Archie Mitchell reports.
She lashed out at those criticising judges and said the solution is to “introduce emergency legislation”.
The former home secretary said a bill is needed to block the application of laws including the European Convention on Human Rights and the Human Rights Act.
Ms Braverman added: “This will give Parliament a clear choice: control illegal migration or explain to the British people why they should accept ever greater numbers of illegal arrivals settling here.
“Those who - like me - believe that effective immigration control is vital must understand that they cannot have their cake and eat it: there is no chance of curbing illegal migration within the current legal framework. We must legislate or admit defeat.”
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