RWANDA will carry on taking illegal migrants even if Britain quits the European Court of Human Rights, The Sun can reveal.
The Kigali government today gave Rishi Sunak the green-light to carry out his threat of leaving the ECHR if its meddling judges try to block removal flights again.
Their intervention dismisses fears that such action could see the East African nation pull the plug on the flagship immigration scheme.
Mr Sunak this week said he is prepared to quit the Strasbourg court if that is what it takes to stop small boat crossings.
He told The Sun’s Never Mind The Ballots telly show: “I believe that border security and controlling illegal migration is more important than our membership of any foreign court.”
Responding last night, Rwanda spokeswoman Yolande Makolo said her government would continue to work with Britain regardless of ECHR membership.
She said: “Whether or not the UK remains a part of the ECHR is ultimately a decision for them, Rwanda, of course, is not party to the ECHR.
“Regardless of their decision, our position remains as it has always been, that the partnership must meet the highest standards of international law, which it does, and that both the UK and Rwanda act lawfully.”
It is understood that under the deal the UK would have to meet its obligations to the UN Convention of refugees and other internal human rights conventions, which Rwanda is also party to.
However, ditching the ECHR would have no effect on the scheme, which Mr Sunak hopes to get up and running within weeks.
The position will add further pressure on the PM to include leaving the European court in the manifesto.
It also casts doubt on claims made by Mr Sunak last year when he suggested any hardening of the Rwanda Bill would not be acceptable to Kigali.
Tory MPs last night cheered the PM’s pledge to exit the ECHR if judges once again tried to ground flights using Rule 39 wrecking injunctions.
Danny Kruger, leader of the New Conservative Caucus of 2019 MPs, called it a “very encouraging indication from the PM that we’ll put the primacy of UK law – and the security of our borders – first, even if the ECHR objects.”
Ex-minister Neil O’Brien added: “Encouraging. It’s difficult to see how illegal immigration will be fixed unless we address the ECHR issue.”
But Mr Sunak’s words prompted concern among some Labour MPs, with Stella Creasy blasting: “Rather than uphold the rule of law, this prime minister now says he’s happy to dispense with it all together.”
Labour peer and Starmer ally Lord Falconer even claimed it put the UK’s “commitment to human rights in doubt”.
