Home Secretary Stirs Up Controversy

Rishi Sunak's emergency plan to establish new laws and a treaty with Rwanda, in order to resume flights, is facing setbacks due to a split within the Cabinet. The Prime Minister's original deal was struck down by the Supreme Court earlier this month, prompting the need for alternative measures. The Home Secretary, James Cleverly, has caused division within the Tory party by suggesting that leaving the European Convention of Human Rights could hinder the fight against illegal migration.

Tory Party Divided Over Deportation Measures

One proposal gaining support, particularly from Immigration Minister Robert Jenrick, is the implementation of emergency powers to prevent human rights laws from being used to halt deportations. However, Home Secretary Cleverly and Attorney General Victoria Prentis are reportedly opposed to this idea. Cleverly's comments to The Times, downplaying the importance of flights, have raised concerns about his support for the Rwanda plan.

Treaty and Emergency Laws Face Delays

Despite initial claims by No10 that a new treaty with Rwanda would be announced shortly after the Supreme Court ruling, progress has been slow. The unveiling of both the treaty and the emergency laws could now be pushed back to the week after next. This delay has prompted criticism, with a Tory source emphasizing the urgency of the situation.

Debate Over Human Rights Act

Immigration Minister Jenrick is pushing for the emergency laws to explicitly state that the Human Rights Act and the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR) cannot be used to impede deportations. However, discussions between departments are still ongoing, and the proposed law has not yet been sent to the Prime Minister for approval.

Hurdles for the New Treaty

In addition to the delays, the planned new treaty with Rwanda is facing obstacles. The UK government wishes to send more Home Office workers to Kigali to oversee the refugee and asylum process, as a means of demonstrating the system's reliability to the courts. However, Rwandan officials have expressed concerns about the feasibility of such demands.

A government source stressed the importance of expediting the resumption of flights and avoiding ideological conflicts, stating, "The most important thing is getting these planes off the ground quickly, and not fighting an ideological war."