The UK Government's controversial plan to deport asylum seekers to Rwanda has been thrown into disarray after a dramatic, last-minute legal intervention grounded the inaugural flight scheduled for Tuesday evening.
In a significant blow to Home Secretary Priti Patel's flagship immigration policy, the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) issued an urgent interim measure, preventing the removal of one individual and effectively halting the entire operation just minutes before takeoff.
A Flight Grounded and A Policy in Peril
The Boeing 767, chartered at considerable expense to transport the first group of migrants to Kigali, remained on the tarmac at Boscombe Down airbase in Wiltshire as a series of successful last-ditch appeals unfolded throughout the day. The Prime Minister's official spokesman confirmed that all individuals due to be on that flight have now had their removals postponed following the ECHR ruling.
This development represents a major setback for the government's 'Migration and Economic Development Partnership', which ministers had touted as a vital deterrent to dangerous Channel crossings.
Legal Wrangling and Human Rights Concerns
The decision culminates a day of intense legal battles across UK courts. Earlier, the Supreme Court refused to intervene, and the Court of Appeal denied a request to overturn injunctions granted by the High Court on Monday. However, the ECHR's intervention, citing Article 3 of the Human Rights Convention (prohibition of inhuman or degrading treatment), proved decisive.
Lawyers for the detainees argued that their clients, who include victims of torture and trafficking, faced 'irreversible harm' if sent to Rwanda, a country whose human rights record has been widely questioned by refugee charities and the UN.
Government Reaction and What Comes Next
Downing Street has expressed profound disappointment but remains defiant. A government spokesperson stated, 'We will not be deterred from doing the right thing and delivering our plans to control the nation’s borders.' They confirmed preparations for the next flight have already begun.
However, the future of the policy now hangs in the balance. The High Court is set to conduct a full judicial review of the Rwanda scheme's legality in July. This grounding sets a powerful precedent and emboldens campaigners who view the policy as 'cruel and inhumane'. The political and legal battle over the UK's asylum future is far from over.
