The Labour government has scrapped the controversial £700 million Rwanda deportation scheme after it relocated only four asylum seekers, prompting intense political backlash and financial scrutiny. Here’s the full story.
£700 Million
Home Secretary Yvette Cooper has disclosed that the Conservative government’s controversial and illegal Rwanda deportation scheme, which was intended to deter illegal immigration by sending asylum seekers to a country which the UK’s Supreme Court declared was “not safe,” cost the British taxpayer an eye-watering £700 million.
Ethical Concerns
The financial costs of the Rwanda deportation scheme have been a focal point of criticism, along with serious concerns over its ethical implications. In her address to the Commons, Yvette Cooper described the policy as “the biggest waste of taxpayer money I have ever seen.”
Costs to Worsen
She added, “Looking forward, the costs are set to get worse. Even if the scheme had ever got going it’s clear it would only cover a minority of arrivals, yet a substantial portion of future costs were fixed costs.”
Breakdown of Expenses
The £700 million expenditure included £290 million in payments to Rwanda, costs for chartering flights that never departed, and expenses related to detaining and releasing individuals. Additionally, over 1,000 civil servants were employed to manage the scheme.
Future Projections
Incredibly, Cooper revealed that had the scheme continued, the government planned to spend over £10 billion in six years.
Minimal Impact
Despite the immense cost of the Rwanda plan, the scheme’s impact was minimal, to say the least. Only four individuals were voluntarily relocated to Rwanda under the policy, which critics repeatedly and often cited as a glaring indicator of the scheme’s inefficacy.
Cheaper Paris Ritz
Cooper remarked, “We had often warned that it would frankly be cheaper to put them up in the Paris Ritz – frankly now it turns out it would actually be cheaper to buy the Paris Ritz.”
Cleverly’s Defence
Attempting to defend his party’s now scrapped deportation plan, Shadow Home Secretary James Cleverly accused Cooper of using “hyperbole and made-up numbers,” and added that the newly elected Labour government had “scrapped the Rwanda partnership on ideological grounds.”
Labour’s Deterrent Lacking
Cleverly stated, “The reality is everybody knows, including the people smugglers, that the small boat problem is going to get worse, indeed has already got worse under Labour because they have no deterrent.”
Legal and Operational Hurdles
The Rwanda deportation scheme was plagued by legal and operational hurdles from its inception. The policy faced numerous legal challenges, which contributed to its ultimate failure.
Asylum System Paralysis
Cooper noted that the Home Office had effectively ceased making most asylum decisions, leading to an asylum system similar to the “Hotel California,” in which “people arrive in the asylum system and they never leave.”
Illegal Migration Act Issues
This was exacerbated by the Illegal Migration Act, which prevented decisions on cases for individuals who arrived after March 2023 and met specific conditions, which Cooper claimed amounted to “effectively an amnesty,” adding, “and that is the wrong thing to do.”
Eye-watering Costs
Cooper noted that, due to the backlog of asylum cases, “The potential costs of asylum support over the next four years, if we continue down this track, could be an eye-watering £30bn to £40bn – that is double the annual police budget for England and Wales.”
New Labour Strategies
Following the scheme’s failure, Labour has outlined new strategies to address illegal immigration and streamline the asylum process. Cooper announced the formation of a Border Security Command, which will integrate police, intelligence agencies, and immigration enforcement to combat people smuggling.
Criminalising People Smuggling
The new legislation will also criminalise people smuggling with the same severity as terrorism and penalise social media companies that fail to remove advertisements for small boat crossings.
Financial Savings Expected
The government anticipates significant financial savings by scrapping the Rwanda scheme. Cooper states that cancelling further direct payments to Rwanda would save £220 million in the coming years and up to £750 million allocated for the scheme this year. The Home Office plans to redeploy staff from the defunct scheme to focus on enforcement and returning failed asylum seekers.
Ongoing Challenges
Despite the termination of the Rwanda deportation scheme, challenges in managing illegal immigration persist. Cooper warned that high numbers of small boat crossings will likely continue, particularly through the summer.
Widespread Criticism
Though few issues are as challenging and complex as illegal migration, the financial costs and pitiful impact of the unlawful Rwanda migration scheme have drawn widespread criticism from the political spectrum.
£700 Million Wasted
More than 15,000 people have crossed the Channel in small boats this year, a higher number compared to the same period in previous years. It remains to be seen if Labour’s new plans will effectively reduce the number of small boats. However, any policy will surely be preferable to the Rwanda plan, which saw the previous government burn through £700 million to no avail.
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Featured Image Credit: Shutterstock / Martin Suker.
Grant Gallacher is a seasoned writer with expertise in politics and impactful daily news. His work, deeply rooted in addressing issues that resonate with a wide audience, showcases an unwavering commitment to bringing forth the stories that matter. He is also known for satirical writing and stand up comedy.