Rishi Sunak slaps down Ireland’s plan to send Rwanda-bound migrants BACK to Britain if they flee across border

FIVE months after the Supreme Court appeared to have sunk the Rwanda plan, it is now back on track.

The Safety of Rwanda Act - that is now law - is the third piece of legislation designed to stop small boats in two years.

Rishi Sunak is confident that this one is finally tough enough to make deportations to Kigali a viable threat, and therefore deter illegal migrants making the dangerous Channel crossing.

He insists both Britain and Rwanda are ready for the first flights to take off in July to kickstart a “regular rhythm” of planes.

The process of detaining those migrants earmarked for the first flights can now begin, although the Home Office is remaining tight-lipped over how they have been selected.

One thing for certain is that an army of lawyers are gearing up to launch legal challenges on behalf of those individuals scheduled for removal.

The threshold they have to meet is that migrants face a risk of “serious and irreversible harm” by being sent to Kigali.

Ministers previously insisted that the Safety of Rwanda Act would force courts to throw out around 95 per cent of all claims.

Time will tell if the legislation is as watertight as they hope - and whether it proves to be an effective deterrent for those considering piling into small boats.

The PM also faces pressing questions over his plans for the tens of thousands of illegal migrants here in the UK with no chance of asylum.

Although the Rwanda scheme is technically uncapped, it seems unlikely that many will be sent there any time soon.

But if serious numbers are removed - and it has a tangible impact on Channel crossings - then Mr Sunak will have something to sell to voters heading into the election.

And it will open up a clear dividing line with Labour, who have said they would scrap the scheme altogether.