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Charities will continue to fight government's Rwanda policy for asylum seekers after High Court ruling

15:07, 19 December 2022

updated: 15:11, 19 December 2022

Charities who challenged the government’s plan to send would-be asylum seekers arriving on UK shores to Rwanda say they will continue to fight to stop it.

A court ruled today that the policy proposal was lawful.

More than 40,000 people have crossed the Channel on small boats already this year. Picture: UKNIP
More than 40,000 people have crossed the Channel on small boats already this year. Picture: UKNIP

The Home Office successfully resisted a legal challenge by charities and campaign groups, who argued Rwanda was not a safe destination.

However, the court has ruled that the cases of eight individual asylum seekers - who were due to be sent to Rwanda earlier this year - must be reconsidered

Following the ruling, home secretary Suella Braverman said the government was "committed" to making the plan work

Claire Moseley, founder of the charity ‘Care For Calais’ says they are not conceding defeat.

“There are a lot of problems with this policy and we will be talking to our lawyers and looking towards continuing to fight it," she told KentOnline.

Dover and Deal MP Natalie Elphicke with former Prime Minister Boris Johnson on a previous visit to the port. Picture: Downing Street
Dover and Deal MP Natalie Elphicke with former Prime Minister Boris Johnson on a previous visit to the port. Picture: Downing Street

"This is not going to be an easy case it is incredibly complicated and there are a lot of elements to it. We will continue to fight it.”

Dover and Deal MP Natalie Elphicke took a side-swipe at "left-wing2 groups who triggered the court action, saying they should give up.

"The Rwanda policy has been tested all the way to the Supreme Court on injunctive relief," she said.

"The Supreme Court upheld the government’s position.

“Now the High Court has confirmed the legality of the Rwanda decision - having heard extensive legal arguments from top lawyers on both sides.”

Mike Tapp, Labour parliamentary candidate for Dover and Deal
Mike Tapp, Labour parliamentary candidate for Dover and Deal

That drew a sharp response from Mike Tapp, Labour's prospective parliamentary candidate for the Dover and Deal.

He said: "I find it quite incredible that this government continues to push its distraction politics.

"The Rwanda scheme is unworkable and expensive and will not combat the problem of small boat crossings.

"Natalie Elphicke, a single-issue politician, latches on to this because she knows it grabs headlines. Labour would introduce policy that actually works to get control of the borders."

However, the ruling does clear the way for a potentially quicker way for asylum appeals process to be completed as the number of arrivals continues to rise.

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