Tory leadership election

Rishi Sunak, the UK Prime Minister, reportedly considered scrapping the £290m deportation plan in July 2022, according to an insider. During his unsuccessful bid to become the leader of the Conservative Party, Sunak weighed up the decision but ultimately changed his mind.

Supreme Court blocks plan

MPs are set to vote on new legislation in two weeks after the Supreme Court blocked the deportation plan. The leaked documents show that Sunak had reservations about the scheme and even capped the funding for it. However, he clarified that his skepticism did not reflect a lack of belief in the principle of deterrence.

Call for transparency

Shadow Home Secretary Yvette Cooper has called for the release of the papers outlining Sunak's concerns, urging transparency regarding the deportation plan.

Rift within the party

Sunak's refusal to commit to ignoring any interim injunction from the European Court of Human Rights has sparked fresh tension within the Conservative Party, particularly among the right-wing members.