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Rwanda won’t be paid millions (Image: Getty)
Labour will not have to pay Rwanda an extra £100 million for the failed migrant deportation scheme, a court has ruled.
The Hague’s Permanent Court of Arbitration ruled in favour of the Government’s case against Rwanda over the deal, which was agreed by the previous Tory administration.
Under the conditions of the agreement, illegal migrants would have been deported to Rwanda – but it was cancelled in July 2024 when Labour took office.
The Rwandan government claimed the UK was in breach of the deal, demanding tens of millions of pounds.
The first Rwanda flight was grounded at the 11th hour (Image: Getty)
Responding to the Permanent Court of Arbitration’s decision, a Government spokesperson said: “The UK robustly defended its position, and the tribunal has now ruled in favour of the UK on all grounds.
“The previous government’s policy wasted time and £700 million of taxpayer money to send four volunteers to Rwanda.
“We are now focused on delivering vital reforms to restore order and control to our borders, including removing the incentives drawing illegal migrants to Britain and scaling up removals of those with no right to be here.”
The east African nation sued Britain for more than £100 million, claiming it breached the terms of its agreement and is owed the money.
During the case lawyers representing Britain argued it was “entirely logical” the plan would be scrapped when Labour came into power after the 2024 general election and “simple common sense” that no further payments would be due.
According to legal papers, Rwanda asked the court to find the UK in breach of the agreement and demanded it pay all outstanding sums, as well as compensation.
Emmanuel Ugirashebuja, Rwanda’s minister of justice and attorney general, previously told the court the country incurred “significant costs” preparing for the partnership but the UK “then sought to walk away from its legal obligations”.
He also said the UK “did not do Rwanda a courtesy of informing it in advance” that it was scrapping the deal, and leaders were “left to read about this development in the media”.
In a document setting out Rwanda’s claim, Mr Ugirashebuja asked the court to rule that the UK had breached the agreement and should pay about £100 million that it was due to receive in two instalments in 2024 and 2025, plus £6 million in compensation and interest.
Instead of compensation, he said Rwanda would accept a formal apology from the UK for failing to honour parts of the deal.
The Rwanda flights were grounded by successive legal challenges.
After the Supreme Court ruled that the scheme was unlawful in November 2023, Rishi Sunak’s Government introduced emergency legislation to make clear in UK law that Rwanda is a safe country.
The Safety of Rwanda Bill – which was finally approved after intense political wrangling – ordered courts to ignore key sections of the Human Rights Act.
It also compelled the courts to disregard other British laws or international rules – such as the international Refugee Convention – which would block deportations to Rwanda.
The UK government also signed a new migration treaty with Rwanda, which former Home Secretary Sir James Cleverly said guarantees that anyone sent there would not risk being returned to their home country.
Other European nations were watching how the scheme worked, with the intention of then replicating them, sources have told the Daily Express.
