UK Chancellor Rishi Sunak has been collaborating behind closed doors with European allies in a covert attempt to overhaul regulations that govern the deportation of migrants. The plan, which involves UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson, Italian politician Giorgia Meloni, and leaders from Austria and Spain, aims to rewrite the European Court of Human Rights charter. The objective is to create legal grounds for sending migrants to third countries for processing, a move that would circumvent the recent ruling by the Supreme Court deeming the government's plan to send asylum seekers to Rwanda as unlawful.
Emergency legislation and a new treaty with Rwanda
Downing Street is preparing to introduce emergency legislation and negotiate a new treaty with Rwanda to address the issues highlighted in the Supreme Court judgment. Johnson, who has faced criticism from former Home Secretary Suella Braverman for making adjustments to the original scheme, has pledged to work tirelessly to ensure that domestic courts cannot systematically impede deportation flights. The PM has expressed his determination to implement the Rwanda plan and put an end to what he perceives as an ongoing cycle of immigration issues.
Labour's role in passing the legislation
Johnson has challenged the Labour Party to support the legislation, particularly in the House of Lords, in order to facilitate its swift passage. Sunak emphasized the government's resolve to push the bill through and posed the question of whether the Labour Party would obstruct its progress or collaborate with the government to bring about its enactment as soon as possible.
Criticism from legal experts
Former Supreme Court judge Lord Sumption criticized the notion of enacting a law to declare Rwanda as a safe country, describing it as "profoundly discreditable" and effectively overturning the Supreme Court's decision.
