Raab: Our Own Judges Could Block Rwanda Deportations

UK judges could rule that deporting asylum seekers to Rwanda is unlawful, Dominic Raab has admitted as he refused to say any flights will take off this year.

- Rob Merrick

Ministers have attacked the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) for preventing the first flight on Tuesday night, insisting they have the domestic legal powers they need to act.

But Mr Raab acknowledged a full High Court judicial review, in late July, could also thwart the policy after the government declined to pass fresh legislation to authorise it.

He was asked whether he would be prepared to stake his professional reputation on pledging that at least one asylum seeker will be taken to Rwanda by the end of this year.

"Well, I don't quite know what the courts are going to decide on the main hearing," the deputy prime minister told LBC Radio.

The comment came as Mr Raab appeared to squash No 10 hints it might pull out of the European Convention on Human Rights, saying: "We are going to stay within the convention." However, the official spokesperson for the prime minister, Boris Johnson, later said: "It is fair to say we have not made a final decision on next steps."