The Rwanda Bill won’t survive contact with reality

After significant wrangling in parliament, the government has finally passed its Rwanda Bill – while managing to resist any significant new amendments from the Lords.

It is reported that the Bill is likely to gain royal assent this week and that the government has already identified individuals for removal. Given the scheme appeared dead in the water last year, Rishi Sunak may see this as a triumph. He now has this hugely contentious legislation in place, can finally ratify his treaty with Kigali, and is in a position to carry out his Rwanda plan.

All eyes will now turn to the courts, to see whether Sunak can actually get removal flights off the ground before the election.

The first claims are likely to be heard in the domestic courts in the coming weeks. Although the legislation is very restrictive (it has effectively sought to sideline the domestic courts and disapply elements of international law), it does allow removal decisions to be challenged in very limited cases, on the basis of ‘compelling evidence’ relating specifically to a person’s ‘particular individual circumstances.