A Blow To Rishi Sunak’s “Stop The Boats” Promise. Supreme Court Rules Government Plan To Send Asylum Seekers To Rwanda Unlawful
Rishi Sunak has once again failed to deal with the serious asylum situation after the supreme court ruled that his policy of sending asylum seekers to Rwanda is unlawful.
Rishi Sunak has once again failed in his bid to deal with the serious Asylum problem that is costing the taxpayer more than £6million a day.
The Supreme Court has delivered a significant blow to the government’s asylum policy by ruling it unlawful.
This decision represents a setback for Rishi Sunak’s promise to “stop the boats” and has halted the flagship policy of removing asylum seekers to Rwanda if they arrive by unauthorized means.
The controversial asylum policy, initially announced by Prime Minister Boris Johnson in April 2020, aimed to deter illegal migration by forcibly removing migrants to the East African nation of Rwanda. However, after over a year of legal challenges, not a single migrant has been sent to Kigali.
In a unanimous decision, the five top justices at the Supreme Court agreed with the High Court’s ruling that there are substantial grounds to believe that genuine asylum seekers could face a real risk of being returned to their home countries by Rwanda.
This ruling highlights the potential harm and human rights concerns associated with the government’s policy.
The Supreme Court’s judgment emphasized the current risk faced by asylum seekers in Rwanda. However, it also acknowledged the possibility of future changes that could reduce this risk.
The court’s decision raises questions about the legality and effectiveness of the government’s plan to send migrants to a safe third country for processing.
Rishi Sunak, who has been at the forefront of the government’s efforts to curb illegal migration, expressed disappointment at the Supreme Court’s ruling.
However, he reaffirmed the government’s commitment to “stopping the boats” and emphasized that the principle of sending illegal migrants to a safe third country for processing remains lawful.
The unpopular Prime Minister who many believe his days are numbered said: “We have seen today’s judgment and will now consider next steps.
“This was not the outcome we wanted, but we have spent the last few months planning for all eventualities and we remain completely committed to stopping the boats. Crucially, the Supreme Court – like the Court of Appeal and the High Court before it – has confirmed that the principle of sending illegal migrants to a safe third country for processing is lawful.
“This confirms the Government’s clear view from the outset. Illegal migration destroys lives and costs British taxpayers millions of pounds a year. We need to end it and we will do whatever it takes to do so. Because when people know that if they come here illegally, they won’t get to stay then they will stop coming altogether, and we will stop the boats.”
It is not just Rishi Sunak who is disappointed over the outcome of the appeal. Business owners in Skegness and local residents who are campaigning against RAF Scampton near Lincoln being used for asylum seekers are also disappointed.
Some business owners who have been struggling this year due to the damage to the resort through Asylum seekers being housed in hotels fear this could cause serious problems for Skegness.
It is feared with the failed appeal that more hotels could be used to house the growing number of asylum seekers coming to the UK illegally.
One business owner who did not wished to be named said: “I do not understand what is going on. It is illegal to come to the UK without a passport but instead of putting them in jail or sending them straight back, we house them and throw money at them.”
Some business owners in Cleethorpes near Grimsby are worried that their seaside resort could become home to asylum seekers.
It is feared that hotels in Cleethorpes could just like Skegness being shut down and used to house asylum seekers which would have a serious impact on local businesses.
The government will now carefully consider the next steps following this judgment. The Home Secretary, James Cleverly, is expected to provide further details on the government’s response.
However, the ruling leaves the government in a challenging position, as former Home Secretary Suella Braverman previously warned that there is no credible “Plan B” if the Supreme Court rejected the government’s appeal.
The legal ruling has been seen as a victory for the rights of individuals seeking safety and protection. Organizations such as the Refugee Council and the Freedom from Torture charity have hailed the decision as a triumph for compassion and reason.
Enver Solomon, Chief Executive of the Refugee Council, stressed the importance of a functioning asylum system that provides a fair hearing for those seeking safety in the UK and offers safe routes to avoid dangerous journeys.
He said: “Every day at the Refugee Council we work with people who have fled from bombs and bullets in war-ravaged countries such as Sudan and Syria, children and families who’ve fled death threats and persecution in Afghanistan, and women who’ve escaped the clutches of the oppressive regime in Iran. They have been highly distressed, anxious and traumatised about the prospect of being shipped as though they are human cargo to Rwanda.
“The plan goes against who we are as a country that stands up for those less fortunate than us and for the values of compassion, fairness and humanity. The Government should be focusing on creating a functioning asylum system that allows people who seek safety in the UK a fair hearing on our soil and provides safe routes, so they don’t have to take dangerous journeys.”
The Freedom from Torture charity hailed it as a “victory for reason and compassion”.