British Chancellor Jeremy Hunt has said that a “determined” Rishi Sunak will find a way to save the Rwanda deportation plan without leaving the European Convention of Human Rights.
The British Prime Minister has scrambled to save a plan to deport failed asylum seekers to Rwanda after the Supreme Court found it to be unlawful on Wednesday. He has since faced pressure from the right of his party to pull out of the ECHR.
Mr Sunak promised to upgrade the Rwanda deal to a “treaty” which would ensure in law that migrants deported to Rwanda would not then be removed to a third country.
The Chancellor was optimistic that the “hard-working” and “determined” Prime Minister would be able to pass the Conservative’s flagship policy. “We expect planes to be flying to Rwanda in the spring. We will change the law as necessary, we’re going to solve the problems that people are most frustrated about,” Mr Hunt told the BBC.
Mr Hunt said the UK was “making progress” in stopping illegal boat crossings into the UK, which was one of the Prime Minister’s five priorities. “Crossings have not just gone down by a third this year, but in the rest of Europe they’ve gone up by a third,” he said. “We are actually making progress, but there’s still two thirds to go. Our commitment is to do what it takes to stop the boats.”
While the government did not think it “necessary” to withdraw from the ECHR yet, Mr Hunt did not rule out the possibility of doing so in the future. “We don’t believe at this stage that is necessary. But because people like you are asking … in the end our bottom line is very clear: it is elected representatives in parliament who should make this decision,” he said.
Yet Supreme Court Judge Lord Sumption believed that the Government's Rwanda plan was “probably dead” in its current form.
When asked by Trevor Phillips on the presenter's Sunday show on Sky News whether the scheme is “dead”, he replied: “I think the current Rwanda scheme is probably dead, but we obviously have to suspend judgment until we see what this legislation or this new treaty looks like.”
He also suggested judges in Strasbourg would come to a similar view of the scheme's legality as UK Supreme Court justices.
He said: “The Government have made clear … that they don't intend to do that (withdraw from the European Convention on Human Rights). Although the Government may well ignore interim orders from Strasbourg, they presumably intend to comply with final orders from Strasbourg.
“It (the Strasbourg court) will investigate safety for itself and probably arrive at a conclusion very similar to that of the Supreme Court.”
He also said he is “sceptical” of reported plans to send British civil servants to work in the east African country, adding: “The main problem (with the) scheme is that it outsources to Rwanda the decision about whether people have refugee status.”
Agencies contributed to this report.
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The burning issue
The internal combustion engine is facing a watershed moment – major manufacturer Volvo is to stop producing petroleum-powered vehicles by 2021 and countries in Europe, including the UK, have vowed to ban their sale before 2040. The National takes a look at the story of one of the most successful technologies of the last 100 years and how it has impacted life in the UAE.
Read part four: an affection for classic cars lives on
Read part three: the age of the electric vehicle begins
Read part one: how cars came to the UAE
THE BIO
Family: I have three siblings, one older brother (age 25) and two younger sisters, 20 and 13
Favourite book: Asking for my favourite book has to be one of the hardest questions. However a current favourite would be Sidewalk by Mitchell Duneier
Favourite place to travel to: Any walkable city. I also love nature and wildlife
What do you love eating or cooking: I’m constantly in the kitchen. Ever since I changed the way I eat I enjoy choosing and creating what goes into my body. However, nothing can top home cooked food from my parents.
Favorite place to go in the UAE: A quiet beach.
The years Ramadan fell in May
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How much sugar is in chocolate Easter eggs?
- The 169g Crunchie egg has 15.9g of sugar per 25g serving, working out at around 107g of sugar per egg
- The 190g Maltesers Teasers egg contains 58g of sugar per 100g for the egg and 19.6g of sugar in each of the two Teasers bars that come with it
- The 188g Smarties egg has 113g of sugar per egg and 22.8g in the tube of Smarties it contains
- The Milky Bar white chocolate Egg Hunt Pack contains eight eggs at 7.7g of sugar per egg
- The Cadbury Creme Egg contains 26g of sugar per 40g egg
The specs: McLaren 600LT
Price, base: Dh914,000
Engine: 3.8-litre twin-turbo V8
Transmission: Seven-speed automatic
Power: 600hp @ 7,500rpm
Torque: 620Nm @ 5,500rpm
Fuel economy 12.2.L / 100km
RACE CARD
6.30pm Maiden Dh165,000 (Dirt) 1,200
7.05pm Handicap Dh165,000 (D) 1,600m
7.40pm Maiden Dh165,000 (D) 1,600m
8.15pm Handicap Dh190,000 (D) 1,600m
8.50pm Handicap Dh175,000 (D) 1,400m
9.25pm Handicap Dh175,000 (D) 2,000m
The National selections:
6.30pm Underwriter
7.05pm Rayig
7.40pm Torno Subito
8.15pm Talento Puma
8.50pm Etisalat
9.25pm Gundogdu
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Read more about the coronavirus
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Why are asylum seekers being housed in hotels?
The number of asylum applications in the UK has reached a new record high, driven by those illegally entering the country in small boats crossing the English Channel.
A total of 111,084 people applied for asylum in the UK in the year to June 2025, the highest number for any 12-month period since current records began in 2001.
Asylum seekers and their families can be housed in temporary accommodation while their claim is assessed.
The Home Office provides the accommodation, meaning asylum seekers cannot choose where they live.
When there is not enough housing, the Home Office can move people to hotels or large sites like former military bases.
'The Woman in the House Across the Street from the Girl in the Window'
Director:Michael Lehmann
Stars:Kristen Bell
Rating: 1/5
Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
GOLF’S RAHMBO
- 5 wins in 22 months as pro
- Three wins in past 10 starts
- 45 pro starts worldwide: 5 wins, 17 top 5s
- Ranked 551th in world on debut, now No 4 (was No 2 earlier this year)
- 5th player in last 30 years to win 3 European Tour and 2 PGA Tour titles before age 24 (Woods, Garcia, McIlroy, Spieth)
THE BIO
Ms Al Ameri likes the variety of her job, and the daily environmental challenges she is presented with.
Regular contact with wildlife is the most appealing part of her role at the Environment Agency Abu Dhabi.
She loves to explore new destinations and lives by her motto of being a voice in the world, and not an echo.
She is the youngest of three children, and has a brother and sister.
Her favourite book, Moby Dick by Herman Melville helped inspire her towards a career exploring the natural world.
Yuki Means Happiness
Alison Jean Lester
John Murray
