This statement concerns a judicial review challenge relating to the Home Office pilot scheme reportedly offering payments of up to £40,000 per family to certain failed asylum seekers who voluntarily depart the United Kingdom.
On 6 March 2026, a Pre-Action Protocol letter was issued to the Home Office signalling the intention to pursue judicial review proceedings in the High Court. The purpose of the challenge is to seek clarification as to whether the Government possesses lawful statutory authority to make payments of this scale under the existing immigration framework.
The challenge raises a narrow but important constitutional issue. It is not concerned with the merits of immigration policy itself, but rather with whether the Executive is acting within the limits of authority granted by Parliament when authorising significant public expenditure.
Public reporting indicates that the pilot scheme may offer payments of £10,000 per...
