General Election Showdown
Suella Braverman, the ousted ex-Home Secretary, has criticized Rishi Sunak's plan B for deportation flights, stating that no Rwanda flights will take off before next year's general election.
Braverman's Alternative Plan B
Braverman proposed a five-point plan to address the concerns with the scheme:
- The Bill must address the Supreme Court's concerns about Rwanda being unsafe.
- A clause must be included in the Bill to allow flights to take off before the next election.
- Those arriving illegally must be removed within days, not months.
- Legal challenges to detention must be excluded to prevent burdening the courts.
- The Bill should be introduced before Christmas, and Parliament should be recalled for debate.
Transport Secretary Aims for Spring Flights
Transport Secretary Mark Harper has stated that ministers are aiming for the first Rwanda flights to take off in the spring as planned.
Braverman's Intervention
Suella Braverman's intervention comes as her successor, James Cleverly, insists that a fresh Rwanda treaty will be completed "in days."
Concerns about Delays
There are concerns that even if the treaty is ratified by MPs, it may face delays in the House of Lords and the courts, jeopardizing the PM's hopes of having flights by the spring.
Criticism from Former Supreme Court Justice
Former Supreme Court Justice Lord Sumption has criticized the decision to attempt a second crack at the deportation scheme, calling it "constitutionally extraordinary."
Backlash against Sunak
Rishi Sunak is facing a significant backlash from within the Tory party, with warnings that his leadership is now at stake.
