Rishi vows to introduce emergency legislation to push ahead with Rwanda migrant plan & says I ‘won’t take easy way out’
The PM said the ongoing arrival of small boats is "unfair" and "unsustainable" and he'll sign a new treaty with Rwanda to try and get deportations up and running.
RISHI Sunak this evening vowed to introduce “extraordinary” emergency legislation banning foreign courts from blocking Britain deporting illegal migrants to Rwanda.
The PM is scrambling to calm Tory MPs ready to launch a full-scale revolt over the Supreme Court defeat.
By unanimous verdict, this morning Britain’s most senior judges ruled Rwanda was NOT a safe third nation to deport migrants to.
The judgement had to take into account the rules of the European Court of Human Rights, which have strict rules about sending asylum seekers to third party countries.
But racing out of the blocks, Mr Sunak stood by the £140million removal scheme and revealed he is working to strengthen the deal.
Addressing the nation from Downing St, the PM said: “Today, the Supreme Court has judged that the Rwanda policy requires a set of changes in order to be lawful.
“I do not agree with this decision – but I respect it and I accept it.The rule of law is fundamental to our democracy.
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“We have prepared for all outcomes of this case and so we have been working on a new international Treaty with Rwanda.
“This will provide a guarantee in law that those who are relocated from the UK to Rwanda will be protected against removal from Rwanda.
“And it will make clear that we will bring anyone back if ordered to do so by a court.
“We will finalise the Treaty in light of today’s judgment and ratify it without delay.”
The PM added: “Let me tell everyone now – I will not allow a foreign court to block these flights.
“If the Strasbourg Court chooses to intervene against the express wishes of Parliament, I am prepared to do what necessary to get flights off.
“I will not take the easy way out.”
The Rwanda deportation scheme at a glance
What did the Supreme Court say?
The Supreme Court unanimously declared the Rwanda plan unlawful.
This was chiefly because under the existing deal an asylum seeker whose claim fails could be removed back to the country where they have fled.
Lord Reed said this was in breach of the European Convention of Human Rights, as well as various other UN treaties.
What is Rishi Sunak’s plan now?
Rishi Sunak wants to salvage the plan by striking a new treaty with Rwanda that guarantees every migrant sent there will not be removed whatever 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 PM warned meddling Euro judges he is “prepared to do what is necessary to get flights off”.
He suggested he would ignore edicts from Strasbourg judges seeking to block planes going to Rwanda.
The Rule 39 orders – known as “pyjama injunctions” – sees anonymous judges block flights at the last minute as they did with the first planned removals 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 believe Britain should pull out of the ECHR altogether.
Others like Suella Braverman think there should be powers to shut Euro judges out of all migration decisions.
Mr Sunak will be hoping his tough talk will be enough to calm the restlessness brewing in his ranks.
New Home Secretary James Cleverly appeared to rule out watering down ties to Strasbourg, earlier today, telling restless MPs: “We are not going to put forward proposals simply to manufacture an unnecessary row for short-term political gain.”
Mr Sunak spoke to Rwandan President Paul Kagame this morning where both leaders “reiterated their firm commitment to making our migration partnership work and agreed to take the necessary steps to ensure this is a robust and lawful policy and to stop the boats as soon as possible.”
Under the new treaty Britain wants to strike with Rwanda, even refugees who fail asylum processing will be given a legal right to settle there.
Whereas under the existing deal they could be sent back to their potentially unsafe home country, an issue for the Supreme Court.
The Supreme Court defeat marks a huge blow to the PM’s pledge to stop the boats ahead of an expected showdown general election next year.
Sir Keir Starmer went on the attack in the Commons, blasting: “The central pillar of his government has crumpled beneath him.”
In a summary of the ruling Lord Reed, the President of the Supreme Court, said that all five justices agreed with the Court of Appeal that the Rwanda scheme is unlawful.
He told the court: “We are unanimously of the view that they were entitled to reach that conclusion.
“Indeed, having been taken through the evidence ourselves, we agree with their conclusion.”
Hitting back, a spokesperson for the Rwandan government said: “This is ultimately a decision for the UK’s judicial system.
“However, we do take issue with the ruling that Rwanda is not a safe third country for asylum seekers and refugees, in terms of refoulment.
“Rwanda and the UK have been working together to ensure the integration of relocated asylum seekers into Rwandan society.”
New Home Secretary James Cleverly insisted that “clearly there is an appetite for this concept”.
He added: “Across Europe, illegal migration is increasing, 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 ex-Home Secretary Suella Braverman said the government must “legislate or admit defeat” as she called for measures to override both the ECHR, the Human Rights Act and other “routes of legal challenge”.
In a passionate post on X she said: “Today’s Supreme Court judgment is no surprise. It was predicted by a number of people close to the process. Given the current state of the law, there is no reason to criticise the judges. Instead, the government must introduce emergency legislation.
“The Bill must block off ECHR, HRA, and other routes of legal challenge. 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.”
Ex-Cabinet Minister Sir Simon Clarke said the ruling posed a fundamental question of “who governs Britain”.
And threatening a full-scale Tory revolt he warned that the PM’s response tonight would be viewed as a “confidence issue”.
He demanded emergency legislation to override the Human Rights Act, and warned anything less risked Sunak’s entire administration collapsing.
Tory deputy chairman Lee Anderson said the Government should “ignore the laws” and send migrants back the same day they arrive in the UK.
An ally of Braverman said: “The stupidity of this is the predictability of it all.
“Suella repeatedly proposed a plan when she first came in as Home Secretary to have the option to carry out UK asylum offshoring in Rwanda, which would have insured against 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 banked on winning in the court.”
A former Cabinet Minister said a confidence vote in Sunak’s leadership is now “very plausible”
And fellow Tory Danny Kruger of the New Conservatives group said the Supreme Court judgement could mean the end of the party.
A hastily-arranged meeting was attended by senior Tories including Lord Frost and Sir Iain Duncan Smith.
Mr Kruger said: “This feels absolutely existential for our party.
“We promised to stop the boats, we promised to take back control of our borders.
“What we have seen today is the court has overridden that sovereign decision of the British people.
“And if this government will not step up and do whatever it takes the prime minister has promised and indeed he will, there is no reason for the public to trust us again.
“So we absolutely have to respond to this in the most robust way possible.”
Kruger, who said current legislation wasn’t tough enough, added: “What he needs to do today in our view is announce immediate legislative action to give effect to the sovereign will of the public and indeed of Parliament.”
Yesterday No10 claimed ministers had been war-gaming the potential outcomes and drafting contingencies.
Mr Sunak’s spokesman said: “We’ve got options for possible scenarios as you would expect.”