The UK Supreme Court docket dominated on Wednesday that the federal government’s scheme to ship asylum seekers to Rwanda was illegal, dealing an enormous blow to Prime Minister Rishi Sunak’s immigration coverage and main election pledge earlier than a vote anticipated subsequent 12 months.

The courtroom unanimously rejected the federal government’s enchantment towards an earlier ruling that migrants couldn’t be despatched to Rwanda as a result of it couldn’t be thought-about a secure third nation.

The Rwanda scheme is the central plank of Sunak’s immigration coverage as he prepares to face an election subsequent 12 months, amid concern amongst some voters concerning the numbers of asylum seekers arriving in small boats on Britain’s shores.

The ruling is a significant setback to Sunak’s promise to cease migrants arriving with out permission on the south coast of Britain in small boats from Europe.