Flights deporting migrants from the UK to Rwanda will go ahead as planned this week despite legal attempts by lawyers to halt them and an astonishing intervention by the Prince of Wales, a minister said today.
Brandon Lewis said that the Government was determined to press ahead with the first of the controversial flights to east Africa, scheduled for Tuesday.
Last week a judge rejected an attempt by rights campaigners and trade union leaders to have the flight halted, with an appeal scheduled to take place tomorrow.
The flights, revealed in April under a £120million deal with the Kagame regime, have faced vocal criticism.
And yesterday Charles became the most high profile critic to speak out, sparking a major row with ministers who feel he should emulate the Queen and keep quiet on political issues.