LONDON (Reuters) – British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said on Wednesday that he would consider next steps after the UK Supreme Court ruled that his government’s scheme to send asylum seekers to Rwanda was unlawful.
“We have seen today’s judgment and will now consider next steps,” Sunak said in a statement.
“This was not the outcome we wanted, but we have spent the last few months planning for all eventualities and we remain completely committed to stopping the boats.”
Sunak is due to hold a press conference at 1645 GMT. Interior minister James Cleverly is expected to make a statement to lawmakers this afternoon.
“Crucially, the Supreme Court … has confirmed that the principle of sending illegal migrants to a safe third country for processing is lawful. This confirms the Government’s clear view from the outset,” Sunak said.
“Illegal migration destroys lives and costs British taxpayers millions of pounds a year. We need to end it and we will do whatever it takes to do so.”
(Reporting by Muvija M; editing by William James)
