Rachel said:
“We are making progress on stopping the boats, with small boat crossings down by a third even as the numbers to Europe have soared. Our deterrence strategy is working, but to fully solve this problem, Rwanda is an essential part of that deterrent.
“I do not agree with the Supreme Court’s decision, so I’m pleased to see the Government has been working on a new international treaty with Rwanda which will address their concerns. This must be ratified without delay.
“As well as a new treaty, the Government will take the extraordinary step of introducing emergency legislation so Parliament can confirm that Rwanda is safe, and people cannot further delay flights by bringing challenges in our domestic courts.
“We will also not allow a foreign court to block these flights and if Strasbourg chooses to intervene against the express wishes of Parliament, the Government will do whatever is necessary to get flights off.
“The people smuggling gangs profiteering from this human misery cannot win. We must stop the boats to prevent people from needlessly dying in the English Channel.
“We are sovereign country with a right to control our borders and to decide who can and who cannot come to our country. That is a principle I firmly believe in, and I will support the Government in doing whatever it takes to stop the boats.”
