Labour's 'one-in, one-out' policy was plunged into chaos on Tuesday night as the High Court blocked ministers from sending a small-boat migrant back to France.
The ruling – the first challenge to the policy to reach court – is likely to pave the way for others at risk of deportation to bring copycat claims.
It could leave Labour's returns deal in legal limbo for months. The dramatic court ruling came after attempts to deport other migrants aboard two flights from Heathrow airport were blocked by separate last-minute legal actions.
Shadow Home Secretary Chris Philp, who predicted in Monday's Daily Mail that Labour's scheme would face a 'slew of legal challenges', said the plan was now 'clearly dead'.
'The Government's latest Channel migrant gimmick is now in complete disarray,' the Tory frontbencher said.
