A first flight in the controversial collaboration between Britain and Rwanda would, after several rounds, take off on Wednesday. From the beginning, it was thought that 130 asylum seekers would be on board, a number that was down to seven on Tuesday afternoon. First, a British court rejected a series of appeals and gave the flight the green light to lift, but then the European Court of Justice (ECHR) put its foot down in a number of cases, and the flight remained on the ground. Disappointed and surprised British Home Secretary Priti Patel says she is disappointed and very surprised by the decision, but claims that it should not stop Britain from “doing the right thing”, according to her. Lawyers will review the issue and preparations for the next flight will begin immediately. Britain announced the deal with Rwanda in April. Prime Minister Boris Johnson presented it as a way to discourage people from risking their lives by paying human traffickers to transport them in leaking inflatable boats. The approach has met with sharp criticism, both within the UK, from the church, for example, and from an international perspective. More about the news and comments in the clip above.
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The British continue with plans for criticized Rwanda flights
