Open-border activists must be faced down

Having seen the Safety of Rwanda Act through Parliament, Rishi Sunak now faces perhaps an even greater challenge: ensuring that the scheme is actually implemented.

Yesterday morning, officials attempting to take asylum seekers from a hotel in south-east London to the Bibby Stockholm barge were obstructed by protesters who surrounded a coach, slashed its tyres and eventually watched it leave empty.

While these events unfolded, the Home Office published figures showing that Wednesday had seen the single highest daily total of migrant Channel crossings for the year so far. Together, the events make for a potent illustration of the difficulties facing Mr Sunak and the Government.

It has seemingly become all but routine for activists to attempt to obstruct officials whenever the British state attempts to enforce the borders. Yet disturbingly, it appears that these views are shared by many in the Civil Service itself.

The FDA union, which represents senior civil servants, has applied for a judicial review of the Rwanda policy. In other words, civil servants appear to be attempting to obstruct an elected Government by weaponising the courts. Small wonder that our borders are so porous when those tasked with guarding them seem to resent their existence.

It is unlikely that this will be the only source of legal challenges. As we saw repeatedly in the Brexit process, it is by now almost expected that those on the losing side of a democratic vote will seek to impose their views on the country through the courts.

Yet Mr Sunak should welcome this conflict. He is striking a note that resonates with many voters, who are appalled at current levels of illegal immigration. He has the opportunity to draw a clear, bright line between the Tories and Labour.

Sir Keir Starmer, who in the past was a signatory to a letter opposing deportations, would scrap the Rwanda scheme regardless of its results. He appears to lack any serious alternative beyond accepting – and opening the taxpayers’ chequebook to pay for – an ever-growing stream of arrivals.

Britain is now at a crossroads. It can choose to have borders, or it can embrace the pathological altruism that puts the wellbeing of illegal migrants ahead of the interests of law-abiding citizens. Mr Sunak should hammer this message home.