The United Kingdom's highest court ruled last week that the Conservative Party's migrant policy was unlawful because deported migrants would risk being sent back to their home countries from Rwanda, in violation of the non-refoulement principle that is codified in key international laws on human rights and is reflected in the UK Human Rights Act.
The Guardian newspaper cited sources as saying that talks about blocking the Human Rights Act had taken place in Downing Street since the ruling. Party sources told the daily that dozens of Conservative dissidents were prepared to vote with Labour in order to block any such attempt.
"This would tear the party apart. Several cabinet ministers and the one nationers would not stand for it – the prime minister wouldn't even get it through the Commons," a Conservative party source said.
A hard-right Conservative grouping has meanwhile demanded that Sunak "disapply" the Human Rights Act to push through the migrant scheme, which Sunak proposed to fight an increasing number of boat arrivals from France.
They hope that the first flight to Rwanda will take place before the next general election, due before the end of 2024.