The United Kingdom will not be required to pay the Rwandan government substantial sums over a failed migrant deportation scheme, an international court has determined. Rwanda had sought over £100m, alleging a breach of agreement after the plan was abandoned.

The ruling comes after a three-day hearing at The Hague's permanent court of arbitration in the Netherlands. Judges decided that the UK government is not liable for outstanding costs related to the scheme, which was ultimately shelved.

Boris Johnson's administration initially struck a deal with Kigali in 2022 to send asylum seekers arriving via irregular routes to Rwanda. However, the initiative faced significant legal and political challenges, with the UK supreme court ultimately deeming it unlawful.

Upon becoming Prime Minister in July 2024, Keir Starmer formally ended the plan, describing it as a "gimmick." Lawyers representing the UK government argued it was a logical outcome that payments would cease following the scheme's termination, particularly after a change in government.

During the two years the scheme was active, only a small number of individuals, four according to the UK government, were sent to Rwanda, and they went voluntarily. The UK government has stated that approximately £290m has already been paid to Rwanda.

Rwanda's legal submission to the court indicated that two annual payments of £50m were still due, and they sought a ruling that the UK had breached their agreement. The court's decision absolves the UK of these further financial obligations.

The Rwanda asylum plan, intended to deter illegal immigration, proved controversial from its inception. Critics argued it was inhumane and ineffective, while supporters maintained it was a necessary measure to disrupt people-smuggling networks.

This court ruling provides a degree of financial closure for the UK on this particular initiative, though the broader debate surrounding asylum policy and international agreements is likely to continue.