People gathered in Newcastle city centre this evening in protest against the Government's plan to send failed asylum seekers to Rwanda.
As the plane which is believed to be the one which will carry the first asylum seekers to Rwanda, stood on the runway ahead of its flight, people came together at Grey's Monument to show that they strongly disagree with the plans, branding them "inhuman and insane".
Just seven people were due to be on board the flight from Boscombe Down military base, following a string of legal challenges and Home Office reviews. Government sources later confirmed to PA news agency that due to last minute interventions by the European Court of Human Rights all migrants have now been removed from the plane and the flight to Rwanda will not take off as scheduled tonight.
Read more: Bishop of Durham slams Rwanda plan as 'immoral' policy that 'shames Britain'
Those who gathered at Grey's Monument at 6pm this evening branded the Government's plans "inhuman and insane".
Yunus Bakhsh, from North East Against Racism, which organised the protest, said: "This government has closed down most of the legal routes to get people into this country who are refugees, unless of course you happen to come from the Ukraine, which demonstrates that there isn't a refugee problem, there is a racism problem because the refugees who are being sent to Rwanda are Black and I think that's no coincidence.
"I also think there's no coincidence that a government that is in serious trouble, where our Prime Minister has lost the support of 40% of his backbenchers with a cost of living crisis wants to deflect blame away from him and what his government is doing."
As well as those who turned up to protest against the plans this evening, the Bishop of Durham is among Christian leaders who have condemned the Government's plan, calling it "an immoral policy" that "shames Britain".
Senior Church of England bishops signed a joint letter criticising Boris Johnson's Government. The letter, signed by Bishop of Durham Paul Butler, along with the archbishops of Canterbury and York, says the plan lacks morality.
It reads: "Whether or not the first deportation flight leaves Britain today for Rwanda, this policy should shame us as a nation.", adding: "The shame is our own, because our Christian heritage should inspire us to treat asylum seekers with compassion, fairness and justice, as we have for centuries."
It reportedly goes on to say vulnerable people should be offered safe routes to the UK and not deported. It adds: "This immoral policy shames Britain."
A Government spokesperson said: "Our world-leading Partnership with Rwanda will see those making dangerous, unnecessary and illegal journeys to the UK relocated there to have their claims considered and rebuild their lives.
"There is no one single solution to the global migration crisis, but doing nothing is not an option and this partnership will help break the business model of criminal gangs and prevent loss of life.
"Rwanda is a fundamentally safe and secure country with a track record of supporting asylum seekers and we are confident the agreement is fully compliant with all national and international law."
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