talking about possible other options for the government but the ruling seemed to be very clear and categorical that rwanda isn't the best country for the uk to send migrants. best country for the uk to send miarants. ., , migrants. the ruling was categorical. _ migrants. the ruling was categorical. there - migrants. the ruling was categorical. there was . migrants. the ruling was - categorical. there was some suggestion it might have been more nuanced but it wasn't. there has been talk about whether the government might strengthen the agreement that it has with rwanda about rwanda's processing system but given the strength of the judgment, we don't know how the government will react. rishi sunak did make the point that crucially the supreme court, like the court of appeal and high court, has confirmed the principle of sending illegal migrants to a safe third country for processing is lawful. does that mean they will look at alternative their countries? we don't know which is why there will be focus on what rishi sunak has to say but it's worth bring you some reaction from conservative mps. one, natalie elphicke, the conservative mp for dover where a lot of these small boat crossings and up, she has suggested that a fresh policy is now needed, a new crush channel agreement with france to stop the boats and return those who do come to the french coast. natalie elphicke, one voice suggesting a whole new approach is needed. it's likely to reignite calls from within the conservative party to leave the european convention on human rights. there are some who have been calling for that full some time. it's a very divisive issue and it's worth noting that in thatjudgment from the supreme court, they made clear is notjust supreme court, they made clear is not just the supreme court, they made clear is notjust the european convention on human rights which is preventing this plan been awful. there are other legal agreements that do that as well but i suspect that where is as well but i suspect that where is a lot of focus and attention will land within the conservative party, and there will be a lot of pressure on rishi sunakfrom conservative backbenchers who wanted to see this plan go ahead about what he will do now. �* �* plan go ahead about what he will do now. �* ~ , ., ., , plan go ahead about what he will do now. �* ~ ,, ., , ., ., now. and, alex, you have set out a few possible _ now. and, alex, you have set out a few possible options _ now. and, alex, you have set out a few possible options for _ now. and, alex, you have set out a few possible options for the - few possible options for the government but we expect it's probablyjust a government but we expect it's probably just a few government but we expect it's probablyjust a few months to was the next election, does the prime minister have enough time to come up with a fresh immigration proposal policy that can put to his party in the country? we policy that can put to his party in the country?— the country? we are expecting a aeneral the country? we are expecting a general election _ the country? we are expecting a general election next _ the country? we are expecting a general election next year, - the country? we are expecting a general election next year, we l the country? we are expecting a - general election next year, we don't know if that might be next spring or autumn but there is a huge amount of time to completely change course. why this matters is because rishi sunak has made stopping the boats a very personal political priority, one of his five priorities. he has talked about it time and time again. james cleverly talked about that as being a priority when he entered the home office only a couple of days ago. although the small but numbers have come down, they haven't stopped and so there is pressure on rishi sunak to set out what he will do now as an alternative to this rwanda plan and we should not underestimate how much weight the government put on this plan as part of its own illegal immigration policy. they were the ones that chose to make this a priority so the fact the supreme court has ruled it is unlawful is a hugely significant blow and there is a lot of pressure on them now on where they go next and what they will do to achieve their promise that they have made of stopping those channel crossings. that is the view of the government but as we know, immigration is a key issue for voters here in the uk. what do we hear from the labour party, the lib dems about their proposals on how to handle immigration? we proposals on how to handle immigration?— proposals on how to handle immigration? proposals on how to handle immiaration? ~ ., ., ., immigration? we had reaction from o- osition immigration? we had reaction from opposition parties _ immigration? we had reaction from opposition parties who _ immigration? we had reaction from opposition parties who have - immigration? we had reaction from opposition parties who have been . opposition parties who have been critical from the outset about the government's approach to immigration. laboursays government's approach to immigration. labour says the focus needs to be on reforming the asylum system because there are huge backlogs within the system. the liberal democrats have pointed out the amount of money spent on this plan and there's not been one asylum seeker who has been sent to rwanda because of these legal challenges and it looks increasingly likely that will happen. there is recognition that this is an electoral issue but the real point of disagreement is how you approach it and there has been a lot of criticism from opposition parties in particular about the government's approach but crucially within the conservative party. a lot of difference and disagreement about the government's approach to this and that will really bubble up to now we've had this judgment from the supreme court. it is a real moment for rishi sunak and when he stands up for rishi sunak and when he stands up in the house of commons to answer and address his mps, there will be a lot of eyes watching closely for any signals about what their plan is an huge pressure on the prime minister for that press conference this afternoon because it was only a couple of days ago that suella braverman and the former home secretary who was sacked from the government, on her resignation she wrote that scathing letter to rishi sunak in which she criticised him for not having a plan b for this rwanda policy. let's see if he does. thank you very much. alex forsyth there. as alex mentioned the prime minister is due to speak at prime minister's questions at the top of the hour, so we will bring you that live here on bbc news. let's cross now to anna mcelvoy, executive editor of politico europe. what is your reaction to this ruling from the supreme court? in your reaction to this ruling from the supreme court?— your reaction to this ruling from the supreme court? in some ways i think the government _ the supreme court? in some ways i think the government must - the supreme court? in some ways i think the government must have i the supreme court? in some ways i i think the government must have been prepared for it. we know that when they tangled with the courts on immigration, they often come from but if you read the ruling and we haven't had very long to go into the detail of it, it's very clear not only in the phrasing that it is deemed to be illegal, the rwanda policy, but also, even if under this possible plan to leave the european convention on human rights, there would be great difficulties in the law with instituting it. you can debate that but it's come as two punches to the government when maybe one was expected. you will see quite a fightback from rishi sunak this afternoon, although he is criticised for not lean further into the rwanda policy by suella braverman, he does stand by it and has come round to the view that it is something he wants to fight on when he thinks a lot more of the electorate are on his side. ~ ., .,, ., , lot more of the electorate are on his side. ~ ., ., , ., , ., his side. what options does he have if he wants to _ his side. what options does he have if he wants to fight _ his side. what options does he have if he wants to fight it? _ his side. what options does he have if he wants to fight it? because - his side. what options does he have if he wants to fight it? because as l if he wants to fight it? because as alex mentioned, the government has set this as a key priority for it. what does he do now? he set this as a key priority for it. what does he do now?- set this as a key priority for it. what does he do now? he can amend the oli . what does he do now? he can amend the policy- he — what does he do now? he can amend the policy. he could _ what does he do now? he can amend the policy. he could say _ what does he do now? he can amend the policy. he could say there - what does he do now? he can amend the policy. he could say there are - the policy. he could say there are ways to address some of the shortfalls that the supreme court have raised. you could say, well, i simply don't accept the analysis that this would be illegal anyway. he could, if you like, go on legal route again. he is beginning to run out of courts. there are two ways you can do it, one is to tangle with the law and the other is to say i can make amendments and then keep it moving forward. the problem with both of those positions is that the first one, any discussion around cabinet table and beyond in the party about leaving the convention in some form, i think he might offer some temporary breach. but the court has been fairly clear that it doesn't think that would wash although it says it was not the reason for its decision, its decision doesn't rest on that. he could go into another legal entanglement. it does mean that it is unlikely we get flights off the ground to rwanda before the next election, at which point that then becomes another talking point in the campaign. the becomes another talking point in the cam aiun. ~ , ., , campaign. the prime minister has been criticised _ campaign. the prime minister has been criticised by _ campaign. the prime minister has been criticised by his _ campaign. the prime minister has been criticised by his former - campaign. the prime minister has| been criticised by his former home secretary about how he has handled this plan from the beginning. how do you think she is going to react? she has been positioning herself for this moment. she has been positioning herself for this moment.— has been positioning herself for this moment. she has particularly over the weekend. _ this moment. she has particularly over the weekend. what - this moment. she has particularly over the weekend. what she - this moment. she has particularly over the weekend. what she will. this moment. she has particularly i over the weekend. what she will say is you tied my hands, you didn't really support this. you said you supported it because you wanted to appeal to the hardline immigration wing of your party for which he stands and you didn't really pack this. in a sense you signed up to a policy you didn't have the guts to deliver, that may be the way she puts it and that had this been better plan from the beginning, we wouldn't be lurching from one court defeat to another. i think he will say, well, iwant defeat to another. i think he will say, well, i want to do everything within the law. in say, well, i want to do everything within the law.— within the law. in the context of what has been _ within the law. in the context of what has been happening - within the law. in the context of what has been happening this . within the law. in the context of- what has been happening this week, the prime minister has made big announcements, not least the cabinet reshuffle by bringing back lord cameron into the government, some have argued that maybe he is trying to turn the course of his government away from the right to the centre. could he perhaps drop this plan and may be focus on other issues? i don't think he can drop the plan, is a very clear wedge issue with labour. he is strongly associated with it. he can show he is prepared to adjust the plan, you talk about adaptability, pragmatic, getting things done. i would be surprised to see him backing off on this. remember, david cameron is foreign secretary. he is in a bit of a safe space so if there is a rebalancing towards what some people consider the more moderate or centrist wing of the party, i still don't think that means the death knell for this policy but i think rishi sunak not only because of what has happened in his cabinet but also what is happening in the courts, and the message that is being said will have two show he has either a workaround or fix for this. two show he has either a workaround orfix for this. i don't two show he has either a workaround or fix for this. i don't think you can simply say that's it for the rwanda policy. we can simply say that's it for the rwanda policy-— can simply say that's it for the rwanda policy. can simply say that's it for the rwanda oli . ~ �* ., ., rwanda policy. we can't forget that earlier this morning _ rwanda policy. we can't forget that earlier this morning there - rwanda policy. we can't forget that earlier this morning there was - rwanda policy. we can't forget that j earlier this morning there was good news for the government with the rate of inflation falling. how do you think he is going to tackle prime minister's questions coming up in about 30 minutes now. he has to go on fighting. what do you think a strategy will be? i go on fighting. what do you think a strategy will be?— strategy will be? i think his strate: strategy will be? i think his strategy will _ strategy will be? i think his strategy will be _ strategy will be? i think his strategy will be to - strategy will be? i think his strategy will be to talk - strategy will be? i think his strategy will be to talk a i strategy will be? i think his | strategy will be to talk a lot strategy will be? i think his - strategy will be to talk a lot about that. at first people said that was an easy target to hit and then there were a few months where it didn't look so easy. remember, prices are still going up but the rate at which they do so is coming down. we will hear a lot about that and it will be along the lines of, if i make a commitment, i beckett, iam prepared to wait it out, go through the tough times in order to do so. so there will be that but as it has come around, by the quote of the calendar, at the same time as another of his pledges is under massive pressure, he will say he is bringing down the volume of boats, it's questionable how much is linked to the rwanda policy but i think you will go hard at labour and say, ok, what will you do? voters don't like the small boats, some don't care or have a different opinion but i think it's a problem across the parties. he will say, if you don't like what i'm offering and you are cheering about this court decision, what would you do?— about this court decision, what would ou do? ., ~ ,, , . would you do? thank you very much. that was anne _ would you do? thank you very much. that was anne mcelvoy, _ would you do? thank you very much. that was anne mcelvoy, executive i that was anne mcelvoy, executive editor of politico europe. thank you forjoining us. a reminder of the breaking news over the past hour or so which is that the supreme court here in the uk in london has ruled that the government's plan of sending some asylum seekers to rwanda is unlawful. let's cross alive now to the supreme court and our correspondent alan wilkinson. —— helena wilkinson. that significantjudgment, huge blow for significant judgment, huge blow for the significantjudgment, huge blow for the government and its immigration policy. we are getting a lot of reaction to thatjudgment, a unanimous one, which ruled here at the uk's highest court, the supreme court that the government's rwanda plan, which it announced back in april last year, is unlawful. let's speak to and the solomon, chief executive of the refugee council. first of all, reaction to the judgment today.— first of all, reaction to the 'udument toda . , . , , judgment today. usually significant and important _ judgment today. usually significant and important and _ judgment today. usually significant and important and of _ judgment today. usually significant and important and of course - judgment today. usually significant and important and of course the i and important and of course the rightjudgment because what the supreme court has done is that it has stood up for the rights of men, women and children that come to the uk simply to be safe. they come from countries such as afghanistan, fleeing persecution, torture, death threats. they come from countries such as syria where there is civil war, and they simply want to come here to be safe and have their asylum claim heard in the uk, not to be sent as if they are human cargo to another country across the globe in africa. ~ ., to another country across the globe in africa. ~ . ., , ., in africa. what has it meant then? i mentioned there _ in africa. what has it meant then? i mentioned there have _ in africa. what has it meant then? i mentioned there have been - in africa. what has it meant then? i mentioned there have been legal. mentioned there have been legal battles, this policy, this government's plan has been through the courts for more than 18 months and ended up here with this final judgment. what has it been like for those claimants? it’s judgment. what has it been like for those claimants?— those claimants? it's been hugely traumatic. we _ those claimants? it's been hugely traumatic. we work _ those claimants? it's been hugely traumatic. we work with - those claimants? it's been hugely traumatic. we work with the - those claimants? it's been hugely| traumatic. we work with the men, women and children in the asylum system in the uk today and we know the threat of being sent to rwanda has caused huge distress. great trauma on the trauma they have already been through. it has affected their mental health, well—being, high levels of anxiety, we have even seen people self harming. thejudgment today we have even seen people self harming. the judgment today sent a clear message that those people should be treated, the people we work with should be treated fairly, with humanity and compassion. that is what this country is about. it is about showing that we have one shared humanity and that as a country, we should always give people the opportunity to have asylum, their case heard as an asylum, their case heard as an asylum seeker in the uk if they had to flee for their lives. i think there is a deep shock in the home offers. —— home offers. home office. —— the illegal migration bill depends on people being sent to somewhere like rwanda but the supreme court has ruled today rewind it is not safe so the legislation is deadin it is not safe so the legislation is dead in the water and it is really important government put plans in place to all those people we are supporting and working with in the asylum system today fairly and with humanity and compassion and says to them they will now be able to have asylum claims herod in the uk. —— herod and the uk. —— heard in the uk. lets go live to henry hill, the deputy editor of conservative home. i think the government will be surprised and sources told me that the government thought this was going to work and they were optimistic about winning the appeal. the programme has been ruled illegal and principal sill in theory there is thought that intensive work with rwanda to meet the concerns of the court they could get off the ground but it is now almost certain the rwanda scheme will not be in operation by the time of the gener