UK Government Schedules First Removal Flight to Rwanda for July 24, 2024 Amidst Ongoing Legal Challenges

The UK government, through Edward Brown KC of the Home Office, has announced the first removal flight to Rwanda on July 24, 2024, during a legal hearing in London. This update comes amidst challenges and follows previous statements regarding flight schedules before the General Election. The case is part of a broader legal contest involving the FDA trade union and Asylum Aid charity, with a four-day hearing planned post-election to address individual asylum seeker issues.

The UK government has informed the High Court that the first flight for removals to Rwanda is now scheduled for July 24, 2024. This update was provided by Edward Brown KC of the Home Office during a legal hearing in London, amidst ongoing challenges.

Earlier, the government had stated that no flights would take off before the General Election on July 4, 2024. This information came as an operational update following demands from Mr Justice Chamberlain for clarity on the earliest possible removal date. The judge highlighted the importance of determining these issues promptly, given public interest.

This development is part of a broader legal contest brought by the FDA trade union and charity Asylum Aid. The charity argues that the Safety of Rwanda policy unlawfully directs decision-makers to ignore risks of further deportation leading to potential torture or human rights abuses. The Home Office labelled parts of the charity's claim as "unarguable."

A four-day hearing has been proposed for the week after the General Election to address an individual asylum seeker’s case.