Major blow to Rwanda migrant plan as first flight set to be delayed until at least December
RISHI Sunak faces a fresh migration blow as the first flight to Rwanda is set to be delayed until at least December.
Months after the take off was promised by Home Secretary Braverman, the Supreme Court is to fast-track the top case.
But that will only happen after they return from their summer holiday in October.
The court has not sat since July — but Government insiders have been told to prepare for the whole thing to be wrapped up within six weeks.
That includes the long-awaited decision on whether the scheme to send wannabe asylum seekers there is legal.
The PM has made a promise to “stop the boats” central to his campaign ahead of a possible election next year.
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In March, insiders hoped flights could begin in September — but the Court of Appeal put a spanner in the works in June, saying they were “unlawful”.
Two judges dubbed the plan illegal, saying Rwanda could deport migrants to unsafe countries. But one judge disagreed.
Ministers are now confident of overturning this split decision.
If the Government wins the case, flights to the landlocked African nation could begin by Christmas.
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But campaigners and charities could still take the case to the European Court of Human Rights for a final judgment.
That could take months to be heard — and risks flights being grounded until after the election.
The PM said last weekend that other countries were looking at “similar solutions”.