More than 400 people were rescued and brought ashore after attempting to cross the English Channel to the UK, the latest figures show. It comes as the government's controversial plans to send asylum seekers to Rwanda hit a hurdle when the European court stopped the first scheduled flight from departing on Tuesday night.
Home secretary Priti Patel said she was surprised by the European Court of Human Right's (ECHR) intervention, which overruled domestic judicial decisions made in the UK Supreme Court, but told MPs today that it was “inevitable” there would be legal challenges to the government’s new policy. She said the court’s decision was “disappointing and surprising” but “we remain committed to this policy”.
Hundreds of people who arrived at British shores appeared to be unaware that there was a possibility they could be put on a flight to the African nation, after reaching the UK from Syria, Iraq and Afghanistan. The Ministry of Defence said that 11 small boats had been intercepted on Tuesday off Dover, Ramsgate and Dungeness in Kent, carrying a total of 444 people - the highest number of people since 562 were recorded on April 14 earlier this year.
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At least four ships brought migrants into Dover – one RNLI lifeboat and three Border Force vessels. Among those rescued were a heavily pregnant woman, a number of babies carried by their parents or Border Force staff, and one father carrying his toddler son on his shoulders as they were brought ashore.
Upon being asked if they knew they could be sent to Rwanda, one migrant replied: “What? No,” while others looked on in apparent confusion.
With warm weather and low winds predicted today, it is anticipated more crossings will be attempted. By noon, approximately 150 more migrants had been brought into Dover. One boat brought into the harbour by Border Force, likely used by migrants attempting the crossing today, was heavily damaged and partially deflated.
The government has said it is “highly confident” that the next deportation flight taking asylum seekers to Rwanda will go ahead, despite the first one being halted. Work and Pensions Secretary Therese Coffey said work is already under way at the Home Office to prepare for the next flight.
Earlier, the ECHR said it had granted an urgent interim measure in regards to an Iraqi national who was due to be on the flight, and it is understood the court was considering a number of further requests. It said the individual concerned should not be removed until ongoing judicial review proceedings in the British courts challenging the legality of the deportation policy have been completed.
Speaking in the Commons this afternoon, Ms Patel said the ECHR decision is not an “absolute bar” explaining that removal directions for people on the flight had been “paused”. She added: “The European Court of Human Rights did not rule that the policy or relocations were unlawful, but they prohibited the removal of three of those on last night’s flight. Those prohibitions last for different time periods but are not an absolute bar on their transfer to Rwanda. Anyone who has been ordered to be release by the courts will be tagged while we continue to progress their relocation.”
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