Rishi Sunak has vowed to do “whatever is necessary” to take full control of the UK’s immigration policy despite the latest court ruling that its plans to deport asylum seekers to Rwanda were unlawful.
Ministers reacted with fury to the Court of Appeal verdict in favour of several asylum seekers and a charity fighting against the Government policy.
Campaigners called for the Government to drop its plans to send asylum applicants to Rwanda following the court ruling that the plan to deport migrants was unlawful amid concerns over the east African nation’s asylum system.
In a majority decision, judges overturned an earlier High Court ruling that said Rwanda could be considered a “safe third country”.
The Government said it would seek to appeal against the ruling, with the Prime Minister saying he “fundamentally” disagreed with the decision.
“The policy of this government is very simple, it is this country – and your government – who should decide who comes here, not criminal gangs,” he insisted.
“And I will do whatever is necessary to make that happen.”
Mr Sunak announced that the Government would seek to appeal the ruling, while Home Secretary Suella Braverman said she was “fully committed” to the policy.
The decision is the latest setback in Mr Sunak’s bid to “stop the boats” – one of his flagship pledges.
Ms Braverman insisted that she still had “every confidence” in the plan while stressing that Rwanda was a safe country.
When asked if she blamed “lefty lawyers” or “the blob” amid the defeat, she told broadcasters: “The system is rigged against the British people, it’s as simple as that.
“It’s why we’re changing the laws through our Illegal Migration Bill.”
She then doubled down on her claims in the Commons, telling MPs that “phoney humanitarianism” was holding back plans to tackle Channel crossings. But Labour said the decision showed the Government’s efforts were “completely unravelling”.
Sir Keir Starmer slammed the policy as a “headline-grabbing gimmick”, telling the PA news agency during a visit to North Yorkshire: “What the court’s judgment shows is they’ve spent that £140m of taxpayers’ money without even doing the basics to see whether the scheme was really fit for purpose.”
His deputy, Angela Rayner, said there had been “more Conservative home secretaries in Rwanda than we’ve had asylum seekers sent there” while shadow home secretary Yvette Cooper told the Commons the policy was a “total con on the British people”.
In the 161-page ruling following the appeal heard in April, Sir Geoffrey Vos and Lord Justice Underhill concluded “deficiencies” in the asylum system in Rwanda mean there is a “real risk” asylum seekers could be returned to their home country and face persecution or other inhumane treatment when they may have a good claim for asylum.
“Our conclusion on the safety of Rwanda issue means that the Rwanda policy must be declared unlawful,” Sir Geoffrey added.
Mr Sunak said: “While I respect the court I fundamentally disagree with their conclusions.
“I strongly believe the Rwandan government has provided the assurances necessary to ensure there is no real risk that asylum-seekers relocated under the Rwanda policy would be wrongly returned to third countries – something that the Lord Chief Justice agrees with.”
The Rwandan Government said it took “issue” with the Court of Appeal’s ruling and insisted it was “one of the safest countries in the world”.
