Rwanda asylum ruling nudges Sunak’s five pledges closer to collapse

Promises on inflation, debt and waiting lists are already looking shaky, but Tories will not give up small boats plan easily

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If the five pledges on which Rishi Sunak has pinned Conservative hopes of re-election were already looking shaky, the appeal court ruling on the government's Rwanda asylum policy is a major setback ahead of a general election that must take place before January 2025.

With promises to halve inflation this year, reduce national debt and shorten NHS waiting lists all in doubt, his stop the boats" pledge is now bereft of the supposed deterrent effect of being able to send asylum seekers to Rwanda to have their claims processed.