In a stunning legal and diplomatic development, the UK High Court has barred France's Interior Minister, Gerald Darmanin, from travelling to Rwanda to discuss a UK asylum scheme that the court itself has previously ruled unlawful.
The extraordinary move came after a last-minute legal challenge by the charity Asylum Aid. The court's intervention prevented Minister Darmanin from joining UK Home Secretary James Cleverly on a trip intended to showcase the controversial Rwanda deportation plan to a key European partner.
The court's decision represents a massive blow to the UK government's flagship immigration policy, effectively stating that even facilitating discussions about the scheme with foreign officials could be deemed improper while its legality remains in question.
A Plan Grounded Before Takeoff
The High Court's ruling explicitly noted that the UK's policy of deporting asylum seekers to Rwanda was unlawful. Allowing a French minister to inspect the facilities and discuss the plan, the court reasoned, would be inappropriate and could be construed as endorsing a policy that has not yet been approved by the British judicial system.
This trip was highly symbolic for the UK government, which is keen to build international support for its Rwanda plan. The presence of a senior French minister would have been touted as a significant diplomatic coup and a step towards wider European acceptance.
Government's Reaction and Next Steps
A government spokesperson expressed disappointment at the ruling but confirmed they would comply. The Home Office is now pinning its hopes on the Safety of Rwanda (Asylum and Immigration) Bill, currently making its way through Parliament. This new legislation is designed to explicitly declare Rwanda a safe country, thereby overcoming the Supreme Court's objections.
The outcome of this legislative push will determine the future of the policy and whether tours for foreign dignitaries can proceed. For now, the UK's plan to outsource its asylum processing remains firmly grounded.
