A cabinet minister has said that the government will challenge the ruling from the European Court of Human Rights that grounded the Home Office’s Rwanda flight last night.
Work and Pensions Secretary Therese Coffey said she was “highly confident” that the government will be able to go ahead with its policy of deporting asylum seekers to Rwanda.
“We will go back, I am sure, to the ECHR to challenge this initial ruling,” she said.
It comes after Priti Patel said yesterday’s legal defeats would not prevent her from “doing the right thing.”
The home secretary added: “Our legal team are reviewing every decision made on this flight and preparation for the next flight begins now.”
A spokesperson for the Rwandan government has similarly said it will not be deterred by Tuesday’s successful legal bids.
“Rwanda remains fully committed to making this partnership work,” Yolande Makolo said, adding: “Rwanda stands ready to receive the migrants when they do arrive and offer them safety and opportunity in our country.”
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Cabinet minister: UK will challenge European court ruling
Work and Pensions Secretary Therese Coffey has said the government will challenge the ECHR ruling that grounded their Rwanda flight last night.
Speaking to Sky News, she said she was not aware of any moves for the UK to leave the European Convention on Human Rights.
“Right now I am not aware of any decisions or even hints about that,” she said.
Ms Coffey said she expected the Government would challenge a late night ruling by the European Court of Human Rights which led to the cancellation of the first deportation flight taking asylum seekers to Rwanda.
“The most important thing is that we tackle this issue right now. We will go back, I am sure, to the ECHR to challenge this initial ruling. ”
She added that she was “highly confident” that the government will be able to go ahead with its policy of deporting asylum seekers to Rwanda.
Holly Bancroft15 June 2022 10:271655284794
Highest number of Channel crossings since April
A total of 444 people were detected crossing the English Channel in small boats on Tuesday, the Ministry of Defense said.
This is the highest number of people since 562 were recorded on April 14 earlier this year.
Some 11 boats were detected on Tuesday, which suggests an average of around 40 people crossed the Channel per boat.
Holly Bancroft15 June 2022 10:191655283774
Tory MP blames asylum seekers for shortages of GPs, school places and low-cost homes
A Conservative MP has blamed asylum seekers for severe problems in the NHS, schools and social housing – 12 years after his party came to power.
Tom Hunt claimed “uncontrolled illegal immigration” lay behind shortages of GPs, schools places and low-cost homes, as he defended the policy of deporting refugees to Rwanda.
The Ipswich MP was asked if he believed the vast cost of the deportations – kept secret by Priti Patel – was “good value for money”, leaving aside the morality of the scheme.
Read the full story by Rob Merrick here:
Holly Bancroft15 June 2022 10:021655282874
What is the European Court of Human Rights? Key questions as Rwanda flight grounded
The court granted an urgent interim measure in regards to an Iraqi national on the flight, and it is understood it was considering a number of further requests.
The appeals were considered by an out-of-hours judge on papers, overruling the UK’s rulings on a series of legal challenges ahead of the scheduled flight.
But what is the European Court of Human Rights?
Holly Bancroft15 June 2022 09:471655282214
Minister warns Home Office already preparing next Rwanda flight – but refuses to give timetable
Around four asylum seekers were due to board the aircraft, but last minute appeals were granted by an out-of-hours European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) judge, in a blow to the government.
Speaking on Sky News, the work and pensions secretary Ms Coffey said that ministers were “surprised and disappointed” by the late ruling a judge at the European Court of Human Rights (EHRC).
Read the full story here:
Holly Bancroft15 June 2022 09:361655280954
Conservative MP calls for UK to withdraw from ECHR
Conservative MP Greg Smith has called for the UK to pull out of the European Convention on Human Rights after a last minute court ruling stopped the Home Office’s deportation flight to Rwanda going ahead.
Writting on Twitter, Mr Smith said: “There have been multiple occasions this Parliament of legislation passed with great speed.
“What last night showed is we now need the same speed and urgency to bring in a UK Bill of Rights and remove all power from the European Court of Human Rights over our sovereign decisions.”
Holly Bancroft15 June 2022 09:151655279558
David Lammy: ECHR protects all of our rights
Shadow foreign secretary David Lammy has said it was a “grave thing” to suggest the European Court of Human Rights should not examine UK policy.
He told BBC Breakfast: “It protects all of our rights, our rights to privacy, our rights at work, our rights if we’re in rented accommodation with landlords, all sorts of things that affect all of our lives.
“And it’s a very serious thing to suggest that those courts should not look at this scheme properly.”
(Getty Images)
Holly Bancroft15 June 2022 08:521655279258
Cabinet minister not aware of any moves for UK to leave the ECHR
Work and Pensions Secretary Therese Coffey has said she is not aware of any moves for the UK to leave the European Convention on Human Rights.
“Right now I am not aware of any decisions or even hints about that,” she told Sky News.
Ms Coffey said she expected the Government would challenge a late night ruling by the European Court of Human Rights which led to the cancellation of the first deportation flight taking asylum seekers to Rwanda.
“The most important thing is that we tackle this issue right now. We will go back, I am sure, to the ECHR to challenge this initial ruling. ”
Holly Bancroft15 June 2022 08:471655278121
Priti Patel has vowed that the preparation for the next deportation flight ‘begins now’
Reacting to news that the Rwanda flight was blocked late last night by the European Court of Human Rights, Home Secretary Priti Patel vowed “preparation for the next flight begins now.”
She added: “It is very surprising that the European Court of Human Rights has intervened despite repeated earlier success in our domestic courts. These repeated legal barriers are similar to those we experience with other removal flights and many of those removed from this flight will be placed on the next. ”
She warned: “We will not be deterred from doing the right thing and delivering our plans to control our nation’s borders. Our legal team are reviewing every decision made on this flight and preparation for the next flight begins now. ”
Holly Bancroft15 June 2022 08:281655277458
UK Minister: Home Office is preparing for the next flight
Cabinet Minister Therese Coffey has said that the Home Office is preparing for its next deportation flight to Rwanda, adding: “We will continue to prepare”.
Speaking to the media on Wednesday morning, Ms Coffey said: “The government is disappointed in the decision – I’ve never known such a quick decision made by the EHCR on trying to intervene.
I think the public will be surprised we have European judges overruling British judges – but nevertheless I know the Home Office is already getting ready for next flight. We will continue to prepare. ”
The cabinet minister declined to say when the next flight to Rwanda would take place, insisting it is for the Home Office to focus on the matter.
Pressed on whether it would be days or weeks, she said: “I’m not going to get into operational discussions.”
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