Boris Johnson promises to “fix the record” for Partygate’s fine in parliament next week
Boris Johnson’s multimillion-dollar deal to send asylum seekers to Rwanda while their applications are being processed has been condemned as “immoral”, “impractical” and will involve “astronomical” costs.
The remarks by Andrew Mitchell, a Tory MP and former cabinet minister, came after the prime minister unveiled a plan that could see thousands of people fly more than 4,000 miles to Africa.
Speaking on BBC Radio 4’s Today program, Mr Mitchell said he was aware that ministers were trying to tackle “what is a terrible problem” after 28,000 people came to the UK “illegally” in 2021. .
“The government is rightly trying to break the dirty and deadly model of smugglers, and that is why I am absolutely behind them in this,” he said.
Key points
- Scheme called “immoral” and “inoperative”
- The Prime Minister and Patel announce a plan to send asylum seekers to Rwanda
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Sending migrants to Rwanda will save money in the long run, the minister insisted
Sending migrants to Rwanda will save Britain money “in the long run”, the minister said, despite critics who described the costs as “teary-eyed”.
Mr Perslow said: “There is this advance payment of £ 120 million to establish this partnership and, as we move forward, we will continue to contribute to Rwanda as we process cases, in a way similar to the amount of money we spend on this right now here in the UK.
“But in the long run, putting this under control should help us save money.
“We spend £ 5 million a day to accommodate people who cross into hotels.
“This is not sustainable and it is not acceptable and we need to control it.”
Mat Matters April 15, 2022 10:48 AM
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The prime minister wants the first “illegal” migrants to fly to Rwanda in six weeks
The prime minister wants to see the first migrants who receive a “one-way ticket” to Rwanda take off in about six weeks as the government struggles to limit the crossing of the English Channel.
Boris Johnson reportedly wants the first flight carrying those believed to have arrived in the UK illegally – including those going into the water to embark on a dangerous journey in small boats – to leave at the end of next month, marking the beginning of plans to relocate thousands over the next few years.
Amy Gibbons has more below:
Mat Matters April 15, 2022 10:45 p.m.
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ICYMI: Voters oppose Boris Johnson’s plan to send asylum seekers to Rwanda, new poll shows
A YouGov poll conducted hours after the prime minister’s confirmation of the £ 120m scheme found that 42 per cent of those polled opposed only 35 per cent.
Our political editor Andrew Woodcock has the following story:
Mat Matters April 15, 2022 10:27 AM
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The aim of the scheme is for people to be able to enjoy a “fully prosperous” life, says Minister
The government’s plan for asylum seekers in Rwanda aims to help people enjoy a “fully prosperous life,” the government minister said.
Conservative MP Tom Parsglow told BBC Radio 4’s Today program: “The fact is that when people are relocated to Rwanda, they are not forced to stay there. If they want to leave and not enter the asylum system there, they can do so.
“But what will happen is that people will be treated under the Rwanda asylum system, if given, they can stay in Rwanda and what Rwanda wants to do is make sure that these people they can live a fully prosperous and successful life, and the partnership agreement we have with them will help them achieve that. ”
He said the cost to Britain would “depend very much on the volume of people being relocated” and “the length of time they spend in the Rwanda asylum system”.
“It is currently impossible to quantify these figures because the fact is that there are variables here that are very much related to this total amount of money,” he said, adding that payments from the UK to Rwanda would be “quite equivalent ”to what is spent in the country.
Mr Parsglow said he “does not set a time frame” for how long the new approach will take to stop small boats crossing the English Channel.
The aim is for those transferred to Rwanda and granted asylum there to be able to enjoy a “fully prosperous” life, according to a minister in the UK government.
Mat Matters April 15, 2022 10:06
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Rwanda’s asylum seekers’ plan is “immoral” and “impractical”, says the former Tory cabinet minister
Boris Johnson’s multimillion-dollar deal to send asylum seekers to Rwanda while their applications are being processed has been condemned as “immoral”, “impractical” and will involve “astronomical” costs.
Our political correspondent Ashley Cowburn has the full story:
Matter Mathers April 15, 2022 9:52 p.m.
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Good morning and welcome to The Independent’s live political coverage.
Stay tuned for all the latest developments from Westminster and elsewhere.
Mat Matters April 15, 2022 09:51
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