Dowden: We won't allow the European Court of Human Rights to stand in our way on Rwanda

THE European Court of Human Rights will not be allowed to obstruct the deportation of illegal migrants to Rwanda, Oliver Dowden insists.

- Martyn Brown Deputy Political Editor

The Deputy Prime Minister said the deterrent flights are vital to stopping illegal boat crossings from France.

paving the Legislation way for planes to take off to the African nation could be passed by Parliament next week.

Mr Dowden insisted the UK's parliamentary sovereignty extended to all international institutions, including the Strasbourg Court, which blocked the first flights to Rwanda in 2022.

His warning shot comes days after Prime Minister Rishi Sunak threatened to sever our ties with the ECHR if it sinks the plan.

Commitment

Mr Dowden said yesterday: "The Prime Minister is absolutely determined to make sure that we deliver on that commitment to stop the boats.

"The Rwanda policy is an important element of deterrent and the we won't allow the European Court of Human Rights to stand in our way of doing that.