Union for senior civil servants challenges government’s Rwanda plan
The union for senior civil servants, FDA, is taking legal action against the government’s Rwanda plan, which aims to deter small boat crossings in the English Channel. The FDA is concerned that the plan could force civil servants to break the law by ignoring the European Court of Human Rights and directing officials to organize flights to Rwanda.
The FDA argues that this directive puts civil servants in a difficult legal position, as they may be ordered to breach international law and the Civil Service Code. The government, however, maintains that civil servants would be operating in compliance with the law and the Civil Service Code.
The Rwanda plan, a key part of Prime Minister Rishi Sunak’s strategy to stop migrants from crossing the English Channel, has faced criticism from opposition parties. Labour has pledged to scrap the scheme if they win the next election, while the Liberal Democrats and Refugee Council have criticized the government’s focus on headline-grabbing schemes rather than processing asylum claims efficiently and fairly.
As the legal challenge unfolds, the fate of thousands of asylum seekers identified for removal to Rwanda remains uncertain. The government has initiated nationwide operations to detain individuals ahead of their removal, with the aim of starting flights within the next nine to 11 weeks.
The legal battle between the FDA and the government highlights the complex and contentious nature of immigration policy in the UK, with civil servants caught in the crossfire between ministers and the law. The outcome of this legal challenge could have far-reaching implications for the government’s approach to immigration and asylum policy.