The government will appeal against a European court ruling that grounded the first flight due to take asylum seekers to Rwanda and is “highly confident” the next plane will take off, a Cabinet minister has told Sky News.

Therese Coffey, the work and pensions secretary, said the public would be surprised that the European Court of Human Rights had overruled British judges and intervened to stop the first deportation flight to the east African country since the government announced the contentious policy in April.

Ms Coffey said ministers were disappointed by the decision, but rowed back from any suggestion that the UK might withdraw from the European Convention on Human Rights, which established the court.

She added: “We’ll go back I’m sure to the ECHR to challenge this initial ruling because British judges have made the decision, said that these flights would go ahead and I still think that’s the best thing that can happen.”

Related posts:

Indian variant can ‘spread like wildfire’ if people not jabbed – but ‘confidence’ vaccines work Parliament to be recalled next week over deteriorating Afghanistan situation ‘They’re not strangers’: Javid defends maskless Cabinet meeting after PM advised their use Army could be called in to help Scottish ambulance service, amid reports man died after a 40-hour wait Minister echoes Prof Whitty’s caution and urges people to make ‘sensible’ choices before Christmas ‘Each six months’ of pandemic will be better than the last, says chief medical officer PM could face second confidence vote as Tory MPs consider rule change ‘Not moral or immoral but amoral’: Party whips have always revelled in their notoriety Chief whip looking into allegation Tory MP watched pornography in Commons Russia sanctions against 287 MPs should be seen as ‘badge of honour’, says PM Three more Tory MPs urge Boris Johnson to quit over partygate – how many now want him to resign? Senior Tories bracing for possible vote of confidence as soon as next week