DOUGLAS Ross has backed the Rwanda plan – as he insisted the Prime Minister would not ignore the ruling of the Supreme Court it was unlawful.
The Scottish Conservative leader insisted Rishi Sunak “respects” the court’s judgment, which found on Wednesday the policy posed a risk to the safety of asylum seekers.
Sunak has since pledged to introduce emergency legislation to get around the Supreme Court’s ruling and has also pledged to take on human rights judges if they again try to block the plan, which would see some asylum seekers deported to Rwanda to claim asylum there.
The Prime Minister’s bullish response has led to suggestions he will simply ignore the court’s ruling, something put to Douglas Ross during a grilling on BBC One’s Sunday Show.
Sunak is expected to introduce new legislation which will declare Rwanda a safe country under UK law – in a bid to nullify challenges on the grounds the country is unsafe.
Asked whether his boss was ignoring the unanimous ruling, Ross said: "No, and it’s a worry that a BBC journalist would be trying to portray it that way because I’ve just explained that the Prime Minister is going to go away and bring forward emergency legislation to respond to that ruling.
“He has said he respects the ruling of the Supreme Court.”
And he attempted to defend the policy – which opponents have called inhumane – by insisting it would deter asylum seekers from making the dangerous crossing over the Channel and break the model of human trafficking gangs.
“We have to do everything we can to prevent people making that dangerous journey in the first place,” said Ross.
“They are coming from France, a safe country, they are making a very dangerous journey and the only people that are benefitting from that are the illegal gangs who target and prey on vulnerable people to financially gain from their very difficult and challenging circumstances.”
Part of the Prime Minister’s response to the ruling – which found asylum seekers were at risk if sent to Rwanda as they may be returned to their home countries and face persecution there – could be to leave the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR).
Asked about this, Ross denied that was an idea which had been “discussed or put forward as an option at the moment”.
This is despite Tory MP Danny Kruger, co-chair of the New Conservatives caucus in Westminster, who last week demanded the PM find a way to either disregard the principles of the ECHR or leave the convention altogether.
