Rishi Sunak has a backup plan in case the Supreme Court sinks the government's migration policy with Rwanda, according to Downing Street. The fate of the flagship immigration policy will be decided by the country's most senior judges tomorrow. Losing the case would be a setback for Prime Minister Boris Johnson's promise to stop small boat crossings before the expected election next year. However, ministers claim to have prepared for different outcomes and have contingency plans in place.
Prepared for all scenarios
No10 has assured the public that they have considered different scenarios and have options ready. A spokesperson for Rishi Sunak stated, "We've got options for possible scenarios as you would expect." The Cabinet has also been briefed by the new Home Secretary, James Cleverly, ahead of the ruling.
Previous legal challenges
Last summer, the Court of Appeal overturned a High Court judgment, raising concerns about the safety of the removal scheme. The judges were not convinced that the Kigali government would not send migrants to other countries where they could face persecution. Ministers argue that a ruling of unlawfulness doesn't necessarily mean the end of the plan but depends on the severity of the judgment.
Potential impact
A defeat in the Supreme Court would also intensify calls from the Conservative Party to withdraw from the European Court of Human Rights. On the other hand, a victory would be a significant boost for Rishi Sunak, who would aim to start flying asylum seekers to Rwanda as soon as possible. The UK government has already paid £140 million to Rwanda for the rehousing of asylum seekers who cross the English Channel. Ministers believe that this policy will deter tens of thousands of migrants from making the dangerous journey if they know they will be flown to Rwanda in East Africa.
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https://hellofaread.com/politics/tory-mps-warn-pm-against-alienating-right-wing-voters/
