Flights carrying asylum seekers to Rwanda will take off after the general election, says Rishi Sunak, if he is re-elected as Prime Minister.
This announcement has been made as he begins his election campaign.
In the Prime Minister’s latest interviews since Wednesday’s declaration of a general election for July 4th, he said the first flights would take place in July.
Rishi Sunak did not elaborate on when exactly in July that would be, but he said that “the preparation work has gone on.”
The Rwanda scheme was initially set out by former Prime Minster Boris Johnson two years ago. However, the plan has been delayed due to legal challenges. The scheme has already cost £240m.
But Rishi Sunak has made this scheme a key priority. He stated that this plan would be “a deterrent.” He also said that he wanted to make it clear that if migrants came to the UK illegally, they wouldn’t be able to stay and they would be moved to “a safe third country alternative.”
Labour have said that they plan to scrap the scheme if they get elected.
The Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer responded to the announcement this morning, saying “Rishi Sunak clearly does not believe in his Rwanda plan”.
Sir Keir has previously branded the scheme a “gimmick” and said that the money would be better spent on tackling the smugglers bringing migrants on small boats.
Ed Davey, the leader of the Liberal Democrats also suggested that the announcement showed a failing on behalf of Number 10, calling it “an utter humiliation and an admission of defeat”.
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HeadlineRwanda flights carrying asylum seekers to take off after General Election if Sunak wins election
Short HeadlineRwanda flights carrying asylum seekers not to take off before election
StandfirstThe Government had aimed to send the first asylum seekers to the Central African country before polling day.
Flights carrying asylum seekers to Rwanda will take off after the general election, says Rishi Sunak, if he is re-elected as Prime Minister.
This announcement has been made as he begins his election campaign.
In the Prime Minister’s latest interviews since Wednesday’s declaration of a general election for July 4th, he said the first flights would take place in July.
Rishi Sunak did not elaborate on when exactly in July that would be, but he said that “the preparation work has gone on.”
The Rwanda scheme was initially set out by former Prime Minster Boris Johnson two years ago. However, the plan has been delayed due to legal challenges. The scheme has already cost £240m.
But Rishi Sunak has made this scheme a key priority. He stated that this plan would be “a deterrent.” He also said that he wanted to make it clear that if migrants came to the UK illegally, they wouldn’t be able to stay and they would be moved to “a safe third country alternative.”
Labour have said that they plan to scrap the scheme if they get elected.
The Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer responded to the announcement this morning, saying “Rishi Sunak clearly does not believe in his Rwanda plan”.
Sir Keir has previously branded the scheme a “gimmick” and said that the money would be better spent on tackling the smugglers bringing migrants on small boats.
Ed Davey, the leader of the Liberal Democrats also suggested that the announcement showed a failing on behalf of Number 10, calling it “an utter humiliation and an admission of defeat”.
