UK Prime Minister, Rishi Sunak has vowed to do “whatever it takes” to stop small boat crossings following the Supreme Court ruling on Wednesday that his flagship policy of transferring asylum seekers to Rwanda is unlawful.
The Prime Minister insisted on Wednesday that his Government has spent the “last few months planning for all eventualities” as he comes under huge pressure to set out a Plan B.
Five justices at UK’s highest court unanimously rejected the Government’s appeal over its policy of removing asylum seekers to the east African nation if they arrive by unauthorised means.
Expulsion flights to Kigali will stay grounded despite the UK handing over more than £140 million for a policy that has been stalled during more than a year of legal challenges.
Supreme Court President, Lord Reed ruled there would be a risk of Rwanda returning genuine asylum seekers to face “ill treatment” in the country they had fled.
In a statement on Wednesday in reaction to the judgement, Mr Sunak 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.”
He said that, “crucially”, the courts have ruled the “principle” of sending migrants to a third country is lawful.
“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,” he said.
He will face scrutiny at Prime Minister’s Questions before holding a Downing Street press conference on Wednesday afternoon.
After being sacked as home secretary this week, Suella Braverman said Mr Sunak had no “credible Plan B” if the Supreme Court rejected the Government appeal.
She alleged ministers will have “wasted a year” on the Illegal Migration Act “only to arrive back at square one” if they lose.
Campaigners welcomed the verdict, with the Freedom From Torture charity hailing it as a “victory for reason and compassion”.
Steve Smith, chief executive of the Care4Calais refugee charity, said: “The Supreme Court’s judgment is a victory for humanity.
“Today’s judgment should bring this shameful mark on the UK’s history to a close.”
