Campaigners and asylum seekers have won a Court of Appeal challenge against the Government’s plans to deport migrants to Rwanda.

Three Court of Appeal judges agreed by a majority of two to one that Rwanda was not a safe country, and that deportation of migrants to the east African nation to claim asylum would therefore be unlawful.

The decision represents a major blow to Rishi Sunak’s pledge to stop the boats as Rwanda is critical to the success of the Government’s Illegal Migration Bill.

The legislation gives powers to ministers to detain and deport any migrant arriving in the UK illegally to a third safe country such as Rwanda or their home country.

However, ministers could take heart from the fact that Britain’s most senior judge, Lord Burnett, the Lord Chief Justice, dissented from the verdict, saying he believed Rwanda was a safe country.

This is a breaking story. More to follow.