PCS still considering appeal over Rwanda policy
Following today’s news that asylum seekers and a charity have been granted permission to appeal the High Court’s finding that the government’s Rwanda asylum deal is lawful, PCS has confirmed it is still considering an appeal.
In December 2022, following a judicial review application made by PCS, Detention Action, Care4Calais and eight individual refugees, the High Court handed down a judgement confirming its view that the government's Rwanda policy was lawful; but that the eight removal decisions made by the Home Secretary in respect of the individual refugees must be quashed.
In the High Court today, the final orders in respect of the judicial review were handed down. Permission to appeal has been granted to the individual claimants on a range of grounds. The case is now expected to proceed to the Court of Appeal.
We also welcomed today’s decision by the High Court to award only a small amount of costs against us.
An application by home secretary Suella Braverman that PCS, Detention Action and Care4Calais should pay 50% of her costs, estimated at over £500,000, was refused by the court. The 3 organisations will only be liable for costs on a discrete issue that formed a minor part of the case.
Paul O'Connor, head of bargaining at PCS, said: “We are pleased that this case can now proceed to the Court of Appeal to be further tested. We are also pleased that the excessive costs application made by the home secretary has been rejected.
Our members have no desire to work in a hostile environment and we have taken this action in order to defend their interests. We have also taken the action in solidarity with refugees who are subjected to this inhumanity from the government.
PCS will continue to campaign for an end to the hostile environment and its replacement with an asylum system based on humanity."