Former Home Secretary, Rt Hon David Blunkett MP, has reacted to the High Court’s judgement today regarding the deportation of foreign nationals denied permission to remain in the UK.
The Court has ruled that the policy gives people “little or no notice” of removal and denies them access to the justice system.
Mr Blunkett said: “This is just another in a series of judicial rulings which will knock down sensible attempts to streamline and provide common sense to an already complicated removals procedure.
“In this case, we are talking about individuals who have been through a labyrinthine legal process, with lawyers finding every possible reason to avoid their clients’ deportation; and the courts colluding in creating new technical loopholes in longstanding legislation laid down by what should be our sovereign parliament.
“We are reaching the point where, whilst the judiciary have no answers to the challenges faced by those trying to make sense of our border controls and immigration policy, they are happy to strike down agreed measures and to confront government – of whatever persuasion – and Parliament with impossible choices.
“The new coalition are caught on the horns of a dilemma, as they always criticised me and other Labour Home Secretaries for being tough with the judiciary.
“They now need to spell out what they intend to do, given the contradictions in implementing policy which this and other judgements have created.”
ENDS
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