Rishi Sunak has received a new setback regarding his legislation for Rwanda, as a legal evaluation by the conservative party has determined that the prime minister’s proposals are inadequate.
Bill Cash, who chairs the “star chamber” of lawyers for the European Research Group, wrote in the Daily Telegraph that “at present” the legislation is not “sufficiently watertight to meet the government’s policy objectives” such as circumventing individual legal challenges by people seeking to remain in the UK.
Cash believes that parliament has the power to create laws that supersede international treaties, as long as the language used is clear and precise enough to prevent any misunderstandings.
Former home secretary Suella Braverman has challenged the prime minister’s claim that the bill would have caused the collapse of Rwanda’s government if it had been taken further. She found the assertion to be “curious”.
Braverman, who was fired by Sunak in November, stated to the Sunday Telegraph: “I have visited Rwanda multiple times and have had numerous discussions with the Rwandan government. They never expressed any concerns like this.”
According to the Member of Parliament representing Fareham, the inclusion of a clause in the Asylum and Immigration Bill that permits individuals to contest deportations would extend the process by at least six months.
On Saturday evening, Sunak encouraged the Labour party to support his proposals, urging Keir Starmer to put aside political tactics and prioritize the well-being of the nation by backing the bill.
The government’s legal team has stated that the controversial Rwanda immigration plan has a maximum success rate of 50% for initiating deportations prior to the upcoming general election.
According to a report from the Times, the legal advice from the government indicated a high possibility that the European Court of Human Rights could prevent deportation flights under the scheme. This news came during a chaotic week for Sunak.
The recommendation was approved by Sir James Eadie, the UK’s foremost legal advisor, who represented the government in their defense of the policy in the supreme court, according to the newspaper.
The recently proposed legislation in Rwanda would grant ministers the power to disregard injunctions from the European court in Strasbourg. This has sparked debate within the party, with some questioning if it would violate the UK’s responsibilities under the European convention on human rights. Sunak has refuted this claim.
The Conservative party has been divided by the passing of the bill. This week, Robert Jenrick resigned from his role as immigration minister due to the legislation, stating that it was a case of optimism prevailing over past experiences. He stepped down from his position after it was disclosed that the legislation did not grant the government the power to override international laws that have hindered their ability to send asylum seekers to central Africa.
Next week, the proposed law will undergo additional examination following a directive for the Home Office to disclose the complete expenses of the agreement with Rwanda. The expenses for the project have increased from £140 million to £290 million.
On Saturday, in his article for the Telegraph, Jenrick warned that his party risks angering voters at the polls if they do not implement stricter measures to reduce immigration levels. He also criticized Sunak for not fulfilling his commitment to preventing people from crossing the English Channel on small boats.
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Gavin Barwell, a member of the Conservative party and former chief of staff to Theresa May, referred to the party as being difficult to lead, comparing it to the challenges May faced during the 2018-19 Brexit crisis.
According to his interview on BBC Radio 4’s Today programme, he stated that there are seemingly conflicting views within the party. One wing is worried that the legislation violates international laws, while the other wing desires to push it even further.
He suggested that some Conservative leaders were creating conflict in order to advance their own political goals. When asked to identify specific people, he mentioned that Suella Braverman was making demands that cannot be fulfilled, and that Sunak would have been surprised by Jenrick’s resignation.
Barwell stated that the focus on immigration was causing other important issues to be overlooked by voters. He mentioned that concerns about living costs, the state of the NHS, and public services were also significant to voters. He emphasized the need for the Conservative party to address all of these issues with equal urgency.
A representative from the Home Office stated: “The government is dedicated to taking all necessary measures to prevent boats from arriving and to initiate flights to Rwanda as soon as possible. This is why we have responded to the supreme court’s ruling and introduced the most stringent immigration laws to parliament.”
“Rwanda is ready to welcome large numbers of people relocated there. It is a safe country that cares deeply about supporting refugees, and our safety of Rwanda bill will make this absolutely clear in UK law.”
Source: theguardian.com
