Rwanda will carry on taking illegal migrants even if Britain leaves the European Court of Human Rights, the Kigali government confirmed.
They have given Rishi Sunak the go-ahead to leave the EHCR if its judges try to block flights again.
Earlier this week, Sunak said he is prepared to quit the court in order to stop the small boats crossing.
He said that controlling illegal migration is "more important" than membership of the ECHR, saying he would not let a "foreign court" interfere with a policy that is "fundamental to our sovereignty".
Rishi Sunak has been handed a major Rwanda boost as the Kigali government confirmed they will carry on taking migrants even if the UK leaves the ECHR
Getty
Sunak's insistence that he will withdraw from the ECHR if necessary will be welcomed by right-wingers in the Tory party who are concerned that the new legislation, currently being ping-ponged between the Commons and the Lords, will be blocked by Strasbourg.
Vowing to "get this done", Sunak said: "I believe that border security and controlling illegal migration is more important than our membership of any foreign court."
Last night, Rwanda spokeswoman Yolande Makolo responded to Sunak.
She said her government would continue to work with Britain regardless of ECHR membership.
LATEST DEVELOPMENTS:
Braverman visiting the potential migrant housing estate in Kigali, RwandaPAShe said: "Whether or not the UK remains a part of the ECHR is ultimately a decision for them, Rwanda, of course, is not party to the ECHR.
"Regardless of their decision, our position remains as it has always been, that the partnership must meet the highest standards of international law, which it does, and that both the UK and Rwanda act lawfully," according to The Sun.
The position will pile additional pressure on Sunak to include leaving the European court in the manifesto.
Conservative MPs cheered the PM’s pledge to exit the ECHR.
Danny Kruger, leader of the New Conservative Caucus of 2019 MPs, called it a "very encouraging indication from the PM that we'll put the primacy of UK law - and the security of our borders - first, even if the ECHR objects."
Ex-minister Neil O’Brien added: "Encouraging. It's difficult to see how illegal immigration will be fixed unless we address the ECHR issue."
Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and President of Rwanda, Paul Kagame met in May last year
PAHowever, Labour MPs were not as thrilled. Stella Casey said: "Rather than uphold the rule of law, this prime minister now says he's happy to dispense with it all together."
Labour peer and Starmer ally Lord Falconer claimed it put the UK’s "commitment to human rights in doubt".
Last month, it was revealed that the Rwanda plan is unlikely to become law until April 18.
The hope had been to seek royal assent for the Safety of Rwanda (Asylum and Immigration) Bill before the end of March. But the plan now is to complete the whole process in the week following the return of MPs and peers from their Easter break.
This will see Government whips will order Conservative MPs to reject changes to the Bill before one final push to force the legislation through the House of Lords.
