Court Rejects Rwanda's £100M Claim Against UK Over Failed Migrant Deal
Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague rejected Rwanda's claim that Britain owed £100 million for a scrapped migrant deportation deal. The deal, sealed by Boris Johnson in 2022, was ruled illegal by UK Supreme Court and abandoned by Keir Starmer in July 2024, who called it 'dead and buried' and 'a gimmick.' Interior minister Yvette Cooper described the scheme as 'the most shocking waste of taxpayers' money I have ever seen.' During its two-year existence, only four people voluntarily went to Rwanda under the program. UK government confirms about £290 million has already been paid to Rwanda, but Rwanda claimed two annual payments of £50m remained unpaid. The PCA rejected both £50m claims - one by majority and the other unanimously - leaving the UK liable for no additional payments. The two nations remain at diplomatic loggerheads after Britain cut aid to Rwanda over alleged support for M23 rebels in Congo. With taxpayers already out £290 million for just four deportations, was this migrant policy ever intended to work or simply perform political theater?