RISHI Sunak came out swinging for Rwanda today, insisting he’ll do “what is necessary” to fight court rulings and get deportation flights off the ground.
Hitting out at leftie lawyers and advocates of open borders, the PM declared: “We decide who comes here. Not criminal gangs”.
In Downing Street today Rishi Sunak insisted he will do ‘what is necessary’ to send illegal migrants to Rwanda
Yesterday the government’s promise to remove illegal migrants was dealt a fresh blow as the Court of Appeal ruled the Rwanda scheme unlawful.
Two judges argued there’s “a real risk that persons sent to Rwanda will be returned to their home countries”.
But a third – the Lord Chief Justice – disagreed.
From Downing Street Mr Sunak slammed the court for deeming the East African state “unsafe”.
“I respect the court but I fundamentally disagree with their conclusions,” he said.
“Rwanda is a safe country.
“The Rwandans have provided all the assurances necessary to ensure that there is no real risk that asylum seekers that are relocated under our policy would be wrongly returned to third countries.”
In December the High Court sided with the Home Office.
And the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees have sent Libyans fleeing persecution to live in Rwanda.
But left-wing charities successfully appealed the High Court ruling.
Now ministers are set for a major and final clash at the Supreme Court.
Mr Sunak admitted there’s no back-up plan for small boats as he’s confident ministers will triumph.
“We are confident in our case,” he said.
“The High Court agreed with us, the Lord Chief Justice agreed with us.
“We remain entirely confident that what we’re doing is right and it is also fair, because there is nothing moral or compassionate by allowing the current system to continue.”
The defiant PM added: “Deterrence works.”
The Rwandan government yesterday slammed the Court of Appeal’s decision, confessing to “take issue” with the stat being deemed unsafe.
Yolande Makolo, Spokesperson for the Government of Rwanda: “Rwanda is one of the safest countries in the world and we have been recognised by the UNHCR and other international institutions for our exemplary treatment of refugees.
“Rwanda remains fully committed to making this partnership work.
“The broken global migration system is failing to protect the vulnerable, and empowering criminal smuggling gangs at an immeasurable human cost.
“When the migrants do arrive, we will welcome them and provide them with the support they’ll need to build new lives in Rwanda”.
