Why Sunak’s new promise after Rwanda ruling looks extremely hard to keep

Published

1 year ago

November 15, 2023

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It was the prime minister’s day in court today, and he really needed a win.

Instead, the linchpin of his immigration plan – to send asylum seekers to Rwanda – is not just loose but lost.

For a leader who has said, on repeat, that he will stop the boats, Rishi Sunak had little option after this almighty setback to double down on the plan.

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Appearing before the media after losing this case in the Supreme Court, Mr Sunak sounded determined and tough: Rwanda not safe for migrants? No matter – parliament will pass emergency laws to declare it safe and will disapply international law, such as the European Convention on Human Rights, when it comes to the government’s Rwanda policy.

And then there was this promise to voters: “Flights will be heading off in the spring as planned.”

It was tough talk and a clear plan but stop for a few minutes and you ask yourself: is this a prime minister on rinse and repeat, trying to change laws only to get bogged down, again?

First, if the Supreme Court says Rwanda isn’t a safe country, you can’t simply pass a law that says it is.

The prime minister might be able to push it through the Commons with his majority, but the House of Lords may well not want to vote to put anyone in harm’s way.

The suggestion by Mr Sunak that this is all straightforward is disingenuous to say the least.

When I suggested to one government adviser that the prime minister might not be able to guarantee flights next spring given the legislative hoops he needs to jump through, they argued: “The Lords question is a question for Labour, not us – will they accept the will of parliament and the people that we must stop the boats?”

I suspect the answer to that will be a “no” and this will be neither a quick or easy process.

Then there is the question of any domestic laws the prime minister does pass being challenged in the European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg.

Now, on that, the UK-Rwanda treaty might help, says former head government lawyer Jonathan Jones.

That’s because Strasbourg could issue an interim “rule 39” order to say the UK can’t allow flights to take off – as it did earlier this year – but it sounds like the prime minister would ignore it.

But what all of the above points to is that this is no quick fix and that matters politically, because the one big takeaway I heard from that media conference was that the flights will get off the ground next spring.

Those on the right of the party will be led by Suella Braverman agitating for the prime minister to withdraw from the ECHR now and get the flights going or face a new Tory civil war. The stakes could not be higher.

A prime minister’s announcement on next steps today raises more questions than it answers, while his new promise still, for now, looks extremely hard to keep.

When the history of the Sunak government is written, will “stop the boats” be remembered as an election-winning slogan or Mr Sunak’s political epitaph?

UK

British man, 27, dies after avalanche at French Alps ski resort

Published

45 mins ago

April 18, 2025

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British man, 27, dies after avalanche at French Alps ski resort

A British man has died after an avalanche at a ski resort in the French Alps, local officials say.

The 27-year-old man died after being buried in snow at a ski resort and carried about 15m (49ft) by the avalanche’s force, according to local prosecutor Benoit Bachelet.

The incident occurred at Val Thorens ski resort in the Savoie region of southwest France, shortly after 10am on Thursday.

Mr Bachelet said nearby police officers were alerted to the incident by a witness, and the British man was pulled out of the snow.

He added officers gave first aid to the man, who had entered cardiac arrest.

He was taken to hospital in Grenoble, in the Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes region, where he died that evening, Mr Bachelet said.

An investigation into the incident has been opened by the regional prosecutor’s office.

The prosecutor said the victim’s family were being supported by local services.

A Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office spokesperson said: “We are supporting the family of a British man who died in France and are in contact with the local authorities.”

UK

Joe Thompson: Former Rochdale footballer dies aged 36 after third cancer diagnosis

Published

45 mins ago

April 18, 2025

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Joe Thompson: Former Rochdale footballer dies aged 36 after third cancer diagnosis

Former Rochdale player Joe Thompson has died aged 36.

His former club said it was “devastated” to learn of his death.

Thompson, who retired in 2019, was diagnosed with cancer for a third time last year.

In its statement, Rochdale FC said he died “peacefully at home on Thursday, with his family by his side”.

He made over 200 appearances for Rochdale, who he joined from Manchester United‘s academy in 2005.

The club posted a tribute on X, describing the former midfielder as “a warm personality who had a deep connection with our club from a young age”.

In her tribute on Instagram, Thompson’s wife Chantelle said he had “made such an impact on so many people” and he was “the most incredible husband, son, brother, friend and father”.

During his career, he played for Tranmere Rovers, Bury and Carlisle United, with spells on loan at Wrexham and Southport.

He was first diagnosed with Hodgkin lymphoma in 2013, while playing for Tranmere.

When Thompson rejoined Rochdale from Carlisle in 2016 the disease soon returned, but he confirmed he was cancer free in June 2017.

Two years later, he announced his retirement at the age of 29, saying his body had been pushed “to the limit” having twice undergone treatment for cancer.

Last year, he revealed he had been diagnosed with stage four lymphoma which had spread to his lungs.

Hodgkin lymphoma is a relatively aggressive type of cancer that can spread quickly through the body, according to the NHS.

Rochdale, who face Altrincham on Friday, have confirmed that players will wear black armbands during the National League match.

UK

Essex Police: Senior officer sacked for sexual contact with woman while on duty

Published

45 mins ago

April 18, 2025

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Essex Police: Senior officer sacked for sexual contact with woman while on duty

A senior police officer has been sacked after he had sexual contact with a woman while on duty.

The police watchdog found Tom Simons, a chief superintendent with Essex Police, abused his position for a sexual purpose with two women – including by touching a colleague inappropriately and failing to disclose a relationship with one of them.

The Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) said he continued with his behaviour despite being reminded of the importance of maintaining professional boundaries.

The case was first referred to the IOPC in March 2022 after multiple allegations, Essex Police said.

Mr Simons was suspended from duty and interviewed under criminal caution by the IOPC, which executed a search warrant of his house and checked his phone and other devices as part of an investigation.

The case was referred to the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) in January 2024 to consider charges relating to alleged sexual offences, coercive control and misconduct in public office, but it was decided he would not be charged with any criminal offences, the IOPC said.

A disciplinary panel chaired by Bedfordshire Police’s assistant chief constable found Mr Simons had committed gross misconduct and breached the police professional standards of behaviour.

Mr Simons denies all the allegations.

He was dismissed without notice after the misconduct hearing concluded this week. He will also be placed on the College of Policing barred list.

IOPC director Emily Barry said she “would like to praise the courage of the women” who came forward.

“They faced pressure from him as a senior officer, but it’s thanks to them that our investigation was able to gather the strong evidence that was put before the panel at the misconduct hearing, resulting in his dismissal,” she added.

“He has deservedly lost his job and it’s behaviour like this that damages the public’s trust and confidence in police officers.”

Ben-Julian Harrington, chief constable of Essex, said there was “simply no place in policing for people who think, wrongly, that they can get away with sexual misconduct”.

“I will be completely frank. This case is particularly disappointing given the seniority of the former officer,” he added.