Rishi Sunak has declined to reveal if any airline is open to transporting asylum seekers to Rwanda, citing concerns about potential negative impact on their reputation if the deportation proposal proceeds.
The UK prime minister expressed assurance that the government can relocate asylum seekers to the African country. However, he did not disclose if any airlines had committed to the plan, citing confidentiality in business dealings.
He was unable to provide a specific date for fulfilling his promise to “stop the boats”, which he made nearly a year ago. He stated that flights to Rwanda would depart as soon as it is feasible, but there is currently no set date for when small boat crossings will cease.
Sunak admitted that his proposed bill for Rwanda must first be approved by parliament. The bill is scheduled to be revisited by the House of Commons in January, and conservative MPs on the far right are considering causing a divide within the party by voting against it unless it is made stricter.
There are reports that airlines have declined to sign agreements with the Home Office, and government officials have hired an agent to search for a willing commercial provider. If this search is unsuccessful, Sunak would likely have to request assistance from the Ministry of Defence.
“I am eager to have flights depart as soon as it is feasible,” Sunak informed Members of Parliament during the Commons liaison committee. When Diana Johnson, the chair of the home affairs committee, reminded him that planes were necessary for this, he conceded, “That is true.”
Sunak expressed his confidence in being able to send individuals to Rwanda, but declined to comment on any ongoing commercial discussions.
Sunak stated that there is currently no set date for the cessation of small boats crossing the Channel. He emphasized that the efforts to address this issue will continue until a solution is found, as there is no specific timeline for it.
He was not able to provide a specific timeline for clearing the “legacy” backlog of asylum claims. He had previously assured it would be resolved by the end of 2023. “We have not reached the end of the year yet, so the official data has not been released. However, we are making significant progress,” he stated.
The committee of MPs criticized Sunak for being opaque when he refused to disclose additional information about the expected increase in government payments to Rwanda. The cost of the deportation program has increased by over £290m, even though flights are still suspended.
“The disclosures are made annually,” Sunak stated. “In order to protect the sensitive nature of these negotiations, it is necessary for the government to have some flexibility in negotiating and then reporting to Parliament, which is done on a yearly basis.”
When questioned by Meg Hillier, the chair of the public accounts committee, about the lack of transparency regarding the expenses, Sunak stated that it may be necessary to discuss this matter with other nations. However, he also emphasized that it would be inappropriate to disclose these discussions while exploring potential options for our Rwanda policy.
In a recent parliamentary session, James Cleverly stated that the UK will not make any efforts to deport asylum seekers until Kigali has implemented all the necessary changes outlined in a new bilateral agreement. This agreement was signed following the supreme court’s ruling that the previous deportation plan was illegal. Cleverly assured the Lords international agreements committee that his goal is to avoid setting up a system that is destined to fail.
The individual skillfully retracted his previous disapproval of the United Nations refugee organization’s evaluation of Rwanda, which was a key factor in the harsh ruling by the supreme court. The UNHCR provided the judges with over 100 claims of forced repatriation and flaws in Rwanda’s system for granting asylum, such as the absence of an impartial judicial system.
The secretary of state for the home department remarked: “I find it noteworthy that the supreme court heavily referenced the UNHCR’s statements regarding the conditions in Rwanda. I am also aware that the day after the ruling was issued, the UNHCR transported over 160 refugees to Rwanda for processing.”
“By collaborating with Rwandans, the organization is demonstrating through their actions that they have confidence in the safety of Rwanda for processing refugees. Otherwise, they would not have transported those individuals there.”
Lord Kerr, a previous permanent secretary at the Foreign Office, requested that Cleverly retract his negative statements about the UNHCR due to the fact that the UK and UN programs cannot be equated. Lord Kerr clarified that the UNHCR provides a temporary shelter in Rwanda for individuals facing extreme danger of death and they are not permanently housed there.
He tactfully retracted his statement. “If it seemed like I was comparing our relationship to that of the UNHCR, that was not my intention,” he clarified.
During the economy portion of the liaison hearing, Sunak addressed concerns about increasing economic inequality but did not give a specific timeline for when reliance on food banks would decrease.
Liam Byrne, the Labour MP who heads the Commons business committee, inquired of the prime minister if he ever loses sleep over the degree of economic inequality in our nation.
Sunak responded, “No, my goal is to decrease economic inequality and promote equal opportunities. I am happy to see that we are moving in the right direction.”
The Labour chair of the work and pensions committee, Stephen Timms, inquired about a report from the Trussell Trust charity that stated there was a 16% increase in demand for their food banks between April and September compared to the previous year. Sunak responded that he had not yet reviewed the report.
Timms inquired about Sunak’s reaffirmation of his previous forecast that usage of food banks would decrease by the next election. Sunak responded, “I have a sense of assurance that the measures we are implementing are having a positive impact in aiding those who are most in need.”
Source: theguardian.com
