UK Defeats Rwanda's £100m Claim Over Scrapped Asylum Deal at Hague Court

An international court ruled that the UK does not need to pay Rwanda after the UK pulled a deal between the two countries. The hearing lasted three days at the Hague's Permanent Court of Arbitration. The Rwandan government sought to sue the UK for more than £100m, claiming the UK breached the terms of the deal.

UK lawyers argued that it was "entirely logical" the plan would be scrapped when Labour came to power and "simple common sense" that no further payments would be due. They told the court that "Rwanda is not entitled to any of the forms of relief it seeks" and denied that the UK breached parts of the deal. The asylum agreement was signed by the previous Conservative government.

The deal was meant to see the UK pay Rwanda to host asylum seekers who had arrived illegally in the UK. Former Prime Minister Rishi Sunak introduced the scheme as a deterrent to those looking to illegally cross the English Channel in small boats. The plan was first announced in 2022 by then-prime minister Boris Johnson.

Dropping the scheme was one of Labour's manifesto pledges ahead of the 2024 general election. Keir Starmer declared the plan dead and buried shortly after taking office. A government spokesperson said the UK had robustly defended its position.

The spokesperson said the government was 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.