Union hopes to halt Rwanda deportation flight after Prince Charles comments
12.06.2022 - 15:21
/ dailyrecord.co.uk
A union challenging the UK Government's controversial policy of deporting people to Rwanda said it hopes it can win an appeal to stop the first flight taking off this week.
A High Court ruling on Friday paved the way for a flight to the east African country to go ahead on Tuesday but an appeal against that decision is due to be heard on Monday.
The immigration policy has come in for criticism from various groups, with even Prince Charles said to be "more than disappointed" by it, amid reports that he privately described the move to send migrants to Rwanda as "appalling".
The boss of the Public and Commercial Services union (PCS), which represents more than 80% of Border Force staff, said the "legality of these proposals" must be tested, but added there is also a need to debate "the morality and lack of humanity that the Government is demonstrating" with its approach.
Up to 130 people have been notified they could be removed, and on Friday the court in London heard that 31 people were due on the first flight, with the Home Office planning to schedule more this year.
The first claim against the policy was brought by lawyers on behalf of some asylum seekers alongside the PCS, as well as groups Care4Calais and Detention Action, which are challenging the policy on behalf of everyone affected.
Mr Justice Swift on Friday ruled against granting a temporary block to the policy until a full hearing next month, but granted the claimants permission to appeal against his decision, suggesting Court of Appeal judges would hear the case on Monday.
PCS general secretary Mark Serwotka told Sky's Sophy Ridge On Sunday programme: "We hope we win tomorrow in the Court of Appeal to stop the flight (on Tuesday).
"But, of course, the legality of