Suella ally blasts Sunak's 'magic tricks' - 'Just another version of plan A'
Suella Braverman has demanded the Government put in place emergency legislation after the courts ruled that the plan to send migrants to Rwanda was illegal
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An ally of Suella Braverman has blasted Rishi Sunak's Rwanda plans as "just another version of Plan A" after the Supreme Court deemed the plan to send migrants to the African nation unlawful.
Earlier today, the former Home Secretary demanded the Government put in place emergency legislation with a warning to Rishi Sunak, saying: "'legislate or admit defeat".
The ally told GB News: "This is a treaty which he’s putting in legislation - it’s just another version of Plan A.
"He’ll be stuck in the courts again. More magic tricks from Rishi’s magical thinking."
In a statement posted to X this afternoon, in the wake of the Supreme Court's judgement, the former Home Secretary demanded the Government "block off ECHR, HRA, and other routes of legal challenge".
She said: "Today’s Supreme Court judgment is no surprise. It was predicted by a number of people close to the process. Given the current state of the law, there is no reason to criticise the judges. Instead, the government must introduce emergency legislation.
WATCH: Rwanda asylum plan REJECTED as Supreme Court deem it UNLAWFUL
"The Bill must block off ECHR, HRA, and other routes of legal challenge. This will give Parliament a clear choice: control illegal migration or explain to the British people why they should accept ever greater numbers of illegal arrivals settling here.
"Those who - like me - believe that effective immigration control is vital must understand that they cannot have their cake and eat it: there is no chance of curbing illegal migration within the current legal framework. We must legislate or admit defeat."
The Supreme Court this morning ruled that it would be unlawful for the UK to send asylum seekers to Rwanda, in a major blow to the Government.
All five justices unanimously agreed with the Court of Appeal’s conclusion that the Rwanda policy was unlawful.
Delivering his judgement, Lord Reed noted that "the court of appeal was right to overturn the high court's decision and to consider the evidence again for itself".
He cited concerns about "media and political freedom", the country's "poor human rights record" and a "misunderstanding of its obligations under the Refugee Convention".
Following the ruling, Rishi Sunak held an emergency press conference.
In his statement, he said: "I do not agree with this decision but I respect it and accept it. The rule of law is fundamental to our democracy. We have prepared for all outcomes of this case. And so we have been working on a new international treaty with Rwanda.
"This will provide a guarantee in law that those who are relocated from the UK to Rwanda will be protected against removal from Rwanda and it will make clear that we will bring back anyone if ordered to do so by a court.
"We will finalise this treaty in light of today’s judgment and ratify it without delay.
"But we need to end the merry-go-round. I said I was going to fundamentally change our country, and I meant it. So I’m also announcing today that we will take the extraordinary step of introducing emergency legislation. This will enable Parliament to confirm that with our new treaty, Rwanda is safe."
Sunak added: "We must be honest about the fact that even once Parliament has changed the law here at home, we could still face challenges from the European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg."
"I told Parliament earlier today that I’m prepared to change our laws and revisit those international relationships to remove the obstacles in our way.
"So let me tell everybody now, I will not allow a foreign court to block these flights.
"If the Strasbourg court chooses to intervene against the expressed wishes of Parliament, I am prepared to do what is necessary to get flights off.
"I will not take the easy way out.
"Because I fundamentally do not believe that anyone thinks the founding aims of the European Convention on Human Rights was to stop a sovereign Parliament removing illegal migrants to a country deemed to be safe in parliamentary statute and binding international law."
The Home Secretary will also address the Commons this afternoon.
Speaking in the Commons at PMQs, Sunak hinted that he will quit the ECHR and remove any other domestic obstacles standing in the way of his plan to send migrants to Rwanda.
He also revealed the Government is already working on a new treaty with Rwanda.
But Home Secretary James Cleverly suggested the Government isn’t going to be pulling out of the ECHR imminently.
Speaking in the Commons, the Home Secretary said: “The Prime Minister has said that if our domestic legal framework frustrates our plans he is prepared to change our laws.
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"We are not going to put forward proposals simply to manufacture an unnecessary row for short-term political gain."
In a scathing letter yesterday, Braverman accused Rishi Sunak of a "betrayal" over his failure to stop the boats.
Braverman claimed Sunak "rejected" available options she presented to him, such as "blocking off" the European Convention on Human Rights and the Human Rights Act.