Rishi Sunak faces yet another backlash amid speculation over his deportation plan to Rwanda, which now looks to be delayed until the summer. Here’s the full story.
Rough Few Weeks
Prime Minister Rishi Sunak is having a rough couple of weeks. The country is officially back in recession, inflation remains stubbornly high, and a sustained cost-of-living crisis is forcing many into food poverty.
Illegal Deportations
One of the few policies that the Prime Minister had staked his premiership on, the Rwanda deportation scheme, which has been declared illegal under international law by the highest court in the land, has also run aground recently.
Doomed From the Start
Following the scheme being moved back and forth between the House of Commons and the Lords, the Prime Minister has recently been forced to acknowledge another delay in implementing the seemingly doomed deportation plan.
Pushed Back
Sunak had previously assured the public that the deportation flights would begin in spring. However, he has now revealed that the flights are slated for the summer instead.
Avalanche of Criticism
This admission comes as parliamentary debates on the issue are in their final stages, which has prompted an avalanche of criticism from both sides of the political divide.
“Enough Is Enough”
Speaking to MPs in the House, Sunak stated, “Enough is enough. No more prevarication, no more delay. Parliament will sit there tonight and vote no matter how late it goes. No ifs, no buts.”
“We Have Prepared”
He continued, “Starting from the moment that the bill passes, we will begin the process of removing those identified for the first flight. We have prepared for this moment.”
No Coincidence
Many have assumed that the newly changed timing of the flights is no coincidence, with many political observers suggesting that there may be a correlation between the first flights taking off and a potential summer election.
Trailing Miserably
The Conservatives are currently trailing miserably in the polls. With the upcoming May local elections expected to be a bloodbath for the Tories, many within the party are pinning their hopes on some good press if the flights take off on time.
“Block These Flights”
The political spin had already begun when Sunak announced the dates, as he attempted to shift blame onto the opposition for the delay, stating, “If Labour peers had not spent weeks holding up the bill in the House of Lords to try to block these flights altogether, we would have begun this process weeks ago.”
“Small Boats”
Sunak hopes that his deportation scheme will act as a deterrent against undocumented migrants and asylum seekers who travel across the English Channel in the much-publicised “small boats.”
Ineffective and Expensive
However, opposition parties have vehemently denounced the initiative as ineffective and almost unimaginably expensive, with Labour suggesting it would cost £500 million to send just 300 people to Rwanda.
“An Extortionate Gimmick”
Yvette Cooper, Labour’s shadow home secretary, called the scheme nothing more than “an extortionate gimmick.”
“Con Job”
In a rare moment of political unity on the left and right, Nigel Farage, honorary president of Reform UK, the right-wing party biting deep into the Conservative vote share in polls, posted on X that the policy was simply a “con job from the Tories.”
Fraught With Challenges
The Rwanda bill’s journey through parliament has been fraught with challenges, culminating in a standoff between the House of Commons and the Lords.
Several Amendments
Opposition from both sides of the political divide has resulted in several amendments to the bill, such as one that called for an independent monitoring scheme to assess whether Rwanda truly is safe to send asylum seekers to, but the Commons has consistently overturned these.
Human Trafficking
Sunak has argued that the deportation policy is a necessary solution to the pervasive problem of human trafficking.
“A Systematic Deterrent”
The Prime Minister stated, “The truth is, we need innovative solutions to address what is a global migration crisis to disrupt the business model of people-smuggling gangs. And that means a systematic deterrent.”
Stop the Boats
When asked how he would rate the scheme’s success, Sunak added, “Success is when the boats have been stopped. That’s what the country expects.”
“Respect and Decency”
However, Labour poured cold water on the Prime Minister’s political fervour, with Stephen Kinnock, the shadow immigration minister, stating, “Respect and decency for anyone – whether it’s in relation to our nation to asylum seekers or indeed to the British taxpayer – is not something that this prime minister and his government hold in any regard whatsoever.”
Tortuous Path Through Parliament
As the Rwanda bill continues its torturous path through parliament, its fate remains uncertain despite political wrangling and public debate.
Safe Country?
The government’s determination to push through the legislation stands in stark contrast to the conditions on the ground in Rwanda, a country ruled by a dictator, the safety of which the UK’s highest court has called into question.
Paying the Price
As the politicians argue back and forth that they have the one workable policy for immigration, some of the world’s most vulnerable people, asylum seekers and illegal migrants, will ultimately pay the price regardless of the outcome.
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The post Do Not Proceed: Sunak Pushes Back Date for Rwanda Flights AGAIN first appeared on Edge Media.
Featured Image Credit: Shutterstock / JMundy.
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.