New small boats laws likely to face repeated legal challenges, says former justice secretary
The Government's new plans to tackle the migrant Channel crossings crisis will likely face repeated legal challenges, a former justice secretary has suggested.
Sir Robert Buckland said he had received assurances that the "Government isn’t seeking to break international law" but he agreed the proposals will almost certainly become tied up in the courts.
Suella Braverman, the Home Secretary, said overnight that the Government has "pushed the boundaries of international law to solve this crisis", with the plans due to be unveiled later today.
It was suggested to Sir Robert during an interview on Sky News this morning that if that is the Government's approach then the plans are likely to be challenged "time and time again in the courts".
He said: "It does sound like it. I have had assurances that the Government isn’t seeking to break international law, that is its obligations under the European Convention on Human Rights, the refugee convention.
"I welcome that because I think a lot of other countries in Europe and elsewhere are struggling with this problem and I think it would be a bit of a free-for-all for everybody to try and do their own thing in a way that is not coordinated."