Tories fear Nigel Farage will return from the Jungle and take over their party

The Supreme Court will rule on Wednesday whether the scheme to send asylum seekers to Rwanda conforms to the European Convention.

Tories say if the court gives the thumbs down, the Government must take immediate action to ensure the ECHR cannot stop the flights.

Conservative MPs fear electoral disaster awaits if the Government fails to act and former Ukip leader Nigel Farage campaigns on the issue with the Reform UK party.

A Tory MP who faces a tough fight to stop Labour retaking his seat insisted the PM must deal with the ECHR if the Supreme Court rules against the Government.

He said: “If we don’t we’re dead. If Farage comes back and says Reform is the only party committed to getting out of the ECHR, it’s over – the red wall is gone.”

The first flight due to leave for Rwanda was stopped last year following an intervention by the Strasbourg-based court.

Another Tory MP welcomed going into the election with a pledge to leave the ECHR, suggesting this could boost electoral prospects.

Many Tories believe the Rwanda scheme is needed to deter people from trying to cross the Channel in small boats.

Tory MP Marco Longhi stressed the importance of Wednesday’s judgment, saying: “This is D-Day for the Rwanda flights. If the Supreme Court gives the thumbs-up we should move Heaven and Earth so the flights to Rwanda take off as soon as possible.

“This would instantly shatter the business model of the foul people traffickers who herd people into dinghies.”

Mr Longhi would like to see flights take off before Christmas but government insiders expect it is more likely in the spring.

He added that if the Court rules against the Government the UK “must scrap the European Convention on Human Rights or legislate to make it clear it does not apply in matters of immigration. We cannot go into a general election with flights still grounded because a Convention intended to protect Europe from Nazis has been abused by Left-wing lawyers”.

Former security minister Sir John Hayes said legislation to set aside the ECHR on this issue could be passed quickly.

Tory MP Alexander Stafford said: “If the judgment goes our way, I want to see wheels down in Kigali as soon as possible – literally the next day… Let’s send a message that we’re not pussy-footing around.”

Mr Farage is widely expected to be in the latest series of I’m A Celebrity…Get Me Out Of Here! He was spotted at Heathrow yesterday, fuelling speculation he will soon be in the Australian jungle.

The former MEP is due to launch a legal battle with NatWest over the “debanking” scandal. He revealed in June that Coutts, owned by NatWest, was planning to close his account.

Mr Farage said in a video message: “I’m instructing lawyers today to take action against NatWest bank for what they’ve done, for their breach of confidence, for their lying.”

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