Rishi Sunak unveils ‘toughest immigration legislation ever’ & will bypass human rights laws to get Rwanda flights in air

RISHI Sunak will ignore certain human rights laws in a radical bid to get Rwanda flights going – and end the “scourge” of illegal migration. 

The PM tonight unveiled the “toughest immigration legislation ever” which will also give him the power to overrule meddling European judges.

His Safety and Rwanda bill comes alongside yesterday’s new treaty with the hope of starting the first removals by next spring.

Heading off a Tory row over the bill, Mr Sunak tonight told his MPs they must “unite or die”.

The plan will disapply elements of the Human Rights Act which would have exposed the government to more relentless legal delay.

By also declaring in law that Rwanda is “safe”, ministers believe courts will be forced to throw out any challenges to their flagship scheme.

The bill will also let ministers override European Court of Human Rights edicts to block planes from taking off, like the one grounded at the last minute in 2022. 

Home Secretary James Cleverly was also unable to guarantee the plan would not breach the ECHR.

While the package will likely anger centrist Tory MPs, Mr Sunak tonight insisted it was necessary to crack the migrant crisis.

The PM said: “I have been unequivocal that we can no longer tolerate the endless scourge of illegal migration on our country.

“It is costing us billions of pounds and costing innocent lives, and that is why we are taking action to put a stop to it and make clear once and for all that it is Parliament that should decide who comes to this country, not criminal gangs.

“Through this new landmark emergency legislation, we will control our borders, deter people taking perilous journeys across the channel and end the continuous legal challenges filling our courts.

“And we will disapply sections of the Human Rights Act from the key parts of the Bill, specifically in the case of Rwanda, to ensure our plan cannot be stopped.”

Mr Sunak will face his first test on the move next week when MPs are expected to have their initial vote.

He will then battle to crash it through Parliament as fast as possible, with some MPs even calling to sit over Christmas to get it done.

Right-wing Tories appeared to welcome the proposals tonight, saying it is “good” and “encouraging”.

Jacob Rees-Mogg said: “It has the notwithstanding clause in it. That’s good and initial reading is encouraging. But we are waiting for the legal advice.”

On the fact the Bill was published before it was presented to Parliament, he said: “One does not have to be too prickly about these things.”

But a source close to Suella Braverman said: “The Prime Minister has kept the ability for every single illegal migrant to make individual human rights claims against their removal and to then appeal those claims if they don’t succeed at first.

“It is fatally flawed. It will be bogged down in the courts for months and months.”

Robert Jenrick said the emergency legislation introduced to revive the Rwanda policy had “moved towards my position” but the Bill was “a triumph of hope over experience”.

He said: “In our discussions on the proposed emergency legislation you have moved towards my position, for which I am grateful.

“Nevertheless. I am unable to take the currently proposed legislation through the Commons as I do not believe it provides us with the best possible chance of success.

“A Bill of the kind you are proposing is a triumph of hope over experience. The stakes for the country are too high for us not to pursue the stronger protections required to end the merry-go-round of legal challenges which risk paralysing the scheme and negating its intended deterrent.”

He added: “Reflecting on my time in the Home Office, I am proud of the improvements we have delivered together working alongside dedicated and capable civil servants. I am grateful to you for agreeing to much of my five-point plan to reduce net migration which, once implemented, will deliver the single largest reduction in legal migration ever.

“However, I refuse to be yet another politician who makes promises on immigration to the British public but does not keep them.”

Earlier Ms Braverman herself warned the Tories face “electoral oblivion” within months unless Mr Sunak grips illegal migration.

In a dramatic Commons statement, the former Home Secretary railed against the arrivals “pouring into our country” on small boats.

The scorned ex-Cabinet Minister said: “All of this comes down to a simple question: who governs Britain?”