The inaugural flight to remove asylum seekers from the UK to Rwanda was cancelled minutes before takeoff following an emergency ruling by the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR). The flight, which had been scheduled to depart on Tuesday evening, was grounded after lawyers for seven individuals made successful last-minute applications.
The ECHR intervened in the case of a 54-year-old Iraqi asylum seeker who crossed the Channel in a boat. The court granted an urgent interim measure, ruling that he should not be removed until three weeks after the final domestic decision in his judicial review. This decision allowed lawyers for the other six to secure similar rulings.
Home Secretary Priti Patel expressed disappointment with the legal challenge and criticised the ECHR ruling, stating, “We will not be deterred from doing the right thing and delivering our plans to control our nation’s borders.” She confirmed that preparations for the next flight are already underway.
Shadow Home Secretary Yvette Cooper accused the government of pursuing an unworkable policy. “Ministers are pursuing a policy they know isn’t workable and that won’t tackle criminal gangs,” she said. “But they still paid Rwanda £120m and hired a jet that hasn’t taken off because they just want a row and someone else to blame.”
The Rwandan government reaffirmed its commitment to the partnership, with spokeswoman Yolande Makolo stating, “Rwanda remains fully committed to making this partnership work.” The UK government has paid £120m as a downpayment on the deal and an estimated £500,000 for the cancelled flight.
The legality of the Rwanda policy will be tested in a full court hearing next month. Prime Minister Boris Johnson has hinted that the UK could withdraw from the ECHR to facilitate the removal of illegal migrants.
