Sunak Confident in Civil Servants Implementing Rwanda Bill Despite Legal Concerns and Union Threats
Rishi Sunak, the UK's Chancellor of the Exchequer, expressed confidence that Home Office staff would carry out the Rwanda deportation scheme, despite potential breaches of international law and the civil service code.
The FDA, a union for senior civil servants, has warned that implementing the government's Rwanda deportation bill against legal concerns could result in civil servants being in violation of the civil service code and open to prosecution.
The union has threatened ministers with legal action if they force staff to ignore an urgent injunction from Strasbourg banning a deportation.
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) sent a legal letter to the UK home secretary expressing concerns that implementing a new bill could breach international law and the civil service code.
The union is considering a judicial review.
During a flight to Poland, Prime Minister Sunak expressed confidence that civil servants will support the government and clarified that the bill grants ministers discretion in rule 39 decisions.
The speaker mentioned that they had included a certain power in the code and were prepared to use it.
However, they emphasized that civil servants would be required to adhere to ministerial guidance regarding its use once the code undergoes changes.