The UK Government will appeal a judge’s ruling that could stop illegal migrants in Northern Ireland from being deported to Rwanda, Grant Shapps told GB News.
The Defence Secretary said: "We're absolutely going to appeal that ruling. We don't accept that's the right way forward.
"We do think that Parliament has been very, very clear, and this Government in particular has said that we want to stop the boats.
"I’m afraid, whatever you think about this, we think that's the only way to break this illegal trade.
The Defence Secretary said: "We're absolutely going to appeal that ruling. We don't accept that's the right way forward."
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"I'm afraid the Labour Party wants to stop the planes, we want to stop the boats."
He added: "We don't accept this ruling. We absolutely are going to appeal it, we will ensure we will do everything that's required to make sure Northern Ireland can't be in this position, because we believe firmly in being able to control our own borders and we've been prepared to take action to get to that."
Powers to send migrants to Rwanda under the Illegal Migration Act 2023 are at risk of being disapplied in Northern Ireland as a result of a ruling from the Belfast High Court.
Judges ruled the Illegal Migration Act is incompatible with human rights protections guaranteed in the region under post-Brexit arrangements.
Mr Justice Humphreys also said aspects of the Act were incompatible with the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR).
The move could trigger a large influx of migrants to Northern Ireland.
Two challenges were brought against the Illegal Migration Act, focusing on the peace process human rights protections guaranteed by the Windsor Framework.
The judge found that several elements of the Act do cause a “significant” diminution of the rights enjoyed by asylum seekers residing in Northern Ireland under the terms of the Good Friday Agreement.
Speaking to GB News, Shapps also hit out at the Labour Party, claiming the party doesn't have a plan to tackle the migrant crisis.
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He said: "I have to say, tooth and nail resistance all the way from Keir Starmer who has no plan to deal with this at all, whereas we are least making sure that we're passing this legislation and we won't let Northern Ireland be an exception to the rule in the United Kingdom.”
Asked if the Government should be cracking down on spying by China, he said: "We will not hesitate to call out wrongdoings when we see it and that means and includes recently, where we did see China involved with we believe trying to take people's Electoral Register information.
"We'll always crack down where we need to. I can’t comment on the specific cases and in terms of other than the facts that there have been some arrests.
"I would suggest that those arrests in themselves show that we will not tolerate this."
