UK supreme court rules that British government’s Rwanda asylum policy is unlawful

Flights forcibly removing migrants to Kigali is now less likely to take place any time soon after the ruling on the flagship policy that has been stalled by more than a year of legal challenges

President of the Supreme Court Robert Reed reads out the court's judgement on Wednesday morning. Picture:  PA Video/PA Wire

The UK supreme court has ruled that the British government's Rwanda asylum policy is unlawful, in a major blow for Rishi Sunak’s promise to “stop the boats”.

Justices at the UK’s highest court rejected the British government’s appeal over its policy of removing asylum seekers to the east African nation if they arrive by unauthorised means.