Rishi’s Rwanda asylum plan ruled to be unlawful

It never rains but pours for Rishi Sunak. After a difficult few weeks for the Prime Minister, the Court of Appeal has this morning ruled that the Rwanda scheme is unlawful. The ruling means that the previous decision of the High Court that the scheme is lawful and Rwanda is a safe third country is reversed – with the removal of asylum seekers to Rwanda unlawful ‘until the deficiencies in its asylum processes are corrected’.

Today’s decision was split – with the Master of the Rolls and Lord Justice Underhill concluding the policy is not lawful as there is a ‘real risk’ asylum seekers could be returned to their home country. However, the Lord Chief Justice sided with the original High Court ruling that Rwanda is a safe third country.

The ruling is undoubtedly a blow to the government (though ministers point to the fact that the Lord Chief Justice backed the High Court ruling).