Rishi Sunak admitted that there won’t be a single flight deporting asylum seekers to Rwanda before the election. The Rwanda Bill has been a metaphor for the Conservative government since 2015.
Bill First Announced in 2022
The Rwanda bill was initially announced in 2022. It said anyone illegally seeking asylum in the UK from a safe country could be sent to Rwanda to have their asylum claim processed there.
Legality Questioned From the Start
It was fiercely criticised from the beginning. The Supreme Court ruled that the scheme was unlawful, which delayed it and forced a change in UK law.
Political Hoop-Jumping Took Place
Significant changes to UK law were needed to get the bill to a point where both houses could accept it. For example, the UK had to pass a law declaring Rwanda a safe country.
Still Overrides Other International Law
Even with the changes to UK law and the adaptations of the Rwanda scheme, the government still needs to ignore parts of the International Refugee Convention and the Human Rights Act.
‘Frankenstein’ of a Bill
The constant back-and-forth between the houses and the courts has seen the bill chopped and changed. Bits have been added, and some have been removed, and as a result, many on social media have called it a ‘Frankenstein’ bill.
Problems Mounting and No Progress Made
In many ways, the Rwanda bill has been symbolic of the Tories over the last few years—lots of infighting, lots of money wasting, and plenty of time wasting, all of which have achieved nothing.
Cost to the Public Is Mounting
So far, the Rwanda scheme has cost the taxpayer £310m, money that could have been used to fund schools, hospitals, care services, and jobs. It’s a deeply unpopular bill outside of a small group of people on the right.
Costs Haven’t Ended
According to the National Audit Office, “If more than 300 people are sent to Rwanda, the UK would pay a one-off sum of £120m to help boost the country’s economy, with further payments of £20,000 per individual relocated.”
Additional Fees Added
In addition to the fees mentioned so far, up to £150,000 will be paid for each person sent to Rwanda. This essentially pays someone else to deal with your problems—a political pass-the-buck.
National Audit Office Estimates Minimum Bill of £370M
The National Audit Office expects the bill to cost the UK a minimum of £370m. Still, these costs are likely to escalate over time.
Eventual Cost Over £540M
The total cost over five years is expected to be around £541m. This fee includes the additional £120m payment to the Rwandan government after 300 people have been sent over. That seems like a ridiculous sum of money.
Two Years On, Not a Single Flight Gone
It’s now been over two years since the bill was announced, and not a single flight has left the country with asylum seekers on it – not a single one.
Sunak Made It a Priority
Rishi Sunak highlighted the Rwanda bill as a flagship for his rule. Arguably, this appeased the party’s right, which wanted a strong stance on immigration.
PM Using Rwanda Bill in the Election
He said on the radio recently: “If you think stopping the boats is important, and you think like I do that you need a deterrent to do that, then I’m the only one that’s going to deliver that.”
Labour Vehemently Against the Bill
Shadow home secretary Yvette Cooper added: “He doesn’t believe this plan will work, and that’s why he called the election now in the desperate hope that he won’t be found out.”
Lib Dems Aren’t Fans Either
Alistair Carmichael, the Liberal Democrats’ home affairs spokesperson, said, “The Rwanda scheme has been an immoral and expensive disaster from day one.”
Home Office Started Detaining Ahead of Flights
There are reports that the home office has started rounding up the first group of asylum seekers ahead of the planned flights. However, there will be even further delays as lawyers working for the asylum seekers fight the deportation cases.
Administrative Gaffe Causing Further Embarrassment
There was a recent leak of official documents revealing that the government had lost 3,557 of 5,700 asylum seekers who were identified as requiring removal.
If They Can’t Do This, What Can They Do?
The question to ask is, if Rishi Sunak and the Conservatives can’t deliver on one of their priorities, what can they deliver on? So far, the whole process has been expensive and unpopular.
So Much Attention, Such Little Progress
Rarely has a bill been given so much attention yet achieved so little. It has been one political black eye after another for Sunak and the Tories. Let’s remember – not a single flight has left.
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Featured Image Credit: Shutterstock / JMundy.