Rishi Sunak prepares to swerve Euro rules that risk wrecking his Rwanda plan
RISHI Sunak is preparing to swerve Euro rules that risk wrecking his plan to fly migrants to Rwanda.
Allies said emergency legislation due within days will be “robust” enough to counter further court challenges.
Hinting the PM may ignore European Court of Human Rights edicts, Foreign Secretary Lord Cameron warned Strasbourg judges would need to show “flexibility”.
It came as James Cleverly flew to Rwanda to seal a new treaty that addresses the concerns raised by the Supreme Court.
The Home Secretary said there was now “no credible reason” to block flights.
No10 reiterated that it hoped to get planes off the ground by the spring.
And the PM added: “I said I would stop the boats. I meant it.
“We’ve signed a treaty with Rwanda making it clear that it’s us who decides who comes to this country — not criminal gangs.”
The beefed-up deal binds Rwanda to give almost all boat migrants residency, even failed asylum claimants.
However, the East African nation’s government can veto any asylum seeker — and Britain will take a “portion” of Rwanda’s refugees.
Taxpayers are on the hook for more money beyond the £140million already spent.
Mr Sunak is working with lawyers on the emergency legislation expected as soon as tomorrow that will declare Rwanda a “safe country”.
Lord Cameron reminded peers of how Britain overruled the ECHR on stripping prisoners of the vote.
One Nation Tory MPs, however, urged the Government to “think twice” about overriding the ECHR.
The group’s chairman, Damian Green, said “long-term, difficult decisions” should not be rushed.
Q&A
WHAT is the point of the treaty?
IT provides a legally binding agreement to address Supreme Court concerns as to Rwanda’s handling of asylum claims. Judges feared that rejected asylum seekers could be returned to their country of origin.
WHY is emergency legislation needed alongside the treaty?
TO pre-empt further domestic legal challenges by declaring Rwanda safe for processing asylum claims.
IS Rishi Sunak prepared to bypass human rights laws?
NO final decision has been made but one option is a “notwithstanding” clause that would disapply the UK’s international and domestic human rights obligations in relation to Rwanda.
COULD the emergency legislation face challenges in the Lords?
IT’S not easy for Parliament to stop a treaty’s approval but unelected peers are expected to wage war on the legislation.
WHEN can we expect a plane to take off?
DOWNING Street could not say if flights to Kigali would leave before the next election, which is expected within a year.