A former minister has warned Express.co.uk that “there is no guarantee” that the government will be able to challenge the Appeals Court ruling blocking deportation flights to Rwanda in the Supreme Court.
The split decision by two judges to one today is a severe blow to the efforts to take back control of Britain’s borders and for Mr Sunak to fulfil his promise of “stopping the boats” packed with illegal migrants coming across the English Channel.
But the court ruling has led to serious questions about how the Sunak government is operating its migrant policy.
One senior Tory source noted that when the policy was first drawn up by Priti Patel the case for the Rwanda flights “looked to be watertight”.
But it was noted: “This policy is falling apart under the current incumbent [Home Secretary Suella Braverman].”
The decision has also raised questions about whether the Prime Minister “has the guts to do what is necessary” to tackle the crisis.
Many Conservative MPs now believe he needs to look at withdrawing from the European Convention of Human Rights and its “politicised” court in Strasbourg.
Meanwhile, Red Wall Tory MPs who are facing a massive backlash in their constituencies over the migrant crisis and hotels being packed with illegal migrants have demanded a plan B.
Ipswich MP Tom Hunt, deputy chairman of the influential Common Sense Group of Tory MPs, took aim at the judges.
He said: “Clearly this is extremely disappointing. This week we’ve seen unelected individuals the vast majority who have never had to live with the consequences of rampant illegal migration set themselves against the express will of the British people for controlled migration.
“We need to develop a radical plan B to be implemented before the General Election in case the Government fails at the Supreme Court.”
Another MP saw Mr Sunak’s statement that he “will do whatever is necessary” to stop the small boats and privately mocked it.
“Exit the ECHR? I doubt it!” the MP said.
The Rwanda deportation flights were the key element in providing a deterrent to people trusting criminal human trafficking gangs and trying to make the dangerous trip to Britain.
Dudley North MP MP Marco Longhi told Express.co.uk that he is now receiving messages from constituents saying they no longer believe the government is serious about tackling the crisis.
He said: “The Prime Minister has made stopping the boats a priority. He said he would do what it takes and that he makes things happen.”
He went on: “Some 14 months on and we still have the ECHR dictating what we can and can’t do in our country. It’s not on.
“The Prime Minister needs to deliver on his commitments and he knows there is a political reality to confront. He has to stand up to those who will have us servile to the ECHR.
“This is not what the British people voted for in 2019 and a never ending legal appeal process will also be the quickest way to a Labour government.”
He added: “The question that needs answering is: are we a sovereign country or not? It is incomprehensible as to why we can’t just put them on a plane.
“Who is in charge here? The European courts and the smugglers – or us? The first responsibility of any government is to protect its citizens and its borders. People will vote accordingly.”
