‘Zero chance’ of another Rwanda flight until Britain’s new prime minister is appointed in September – despite all leading Tory candidates backing deportation policy
- Home Office has insisted it is planning next flight to Uganda
- But sources said there will be no more flights until the next PM is in office in September
- All the leading candidates to become the next Conservative leader say they will stick to the policy
Ministers will not try to organize more flights to Rwanda until after the Conservative Party has elected a new prime minister, officials have said.
The Home office has insisted it is in the process of planning its next flight to the East African nation, but has not given a possible departure date.
Speaking anonymously, however, government officials said there is “no chance” of a plane taking off before the next prime minister comes to power in early September.
The first deportation flight – due to take off in June – was grounded amid legal troubles
Attempting to deport migrants to Rwanda before then would cause too much controversy during the leadership battle, sources said The times†
All the leading candidates to become the next Conservative leader have pledged to keep the controversial policy when they try to appeal to party members.
Polls show that three in four voters behind the Conservatives in the last election supported the policy, while only 10 percent opposed it.
Rishi Sunak confirmed on Sunday that he would continue with the deportations after rivals pointed out that he had not revealed his views since launching his leadership campaign on Friday.
A spokesman for the former Chancellor told… the times: ‘Rishi signed and funded the Asylum Partnership Agreement with Rwanda, and now he just wants to make sure it works.
“Rishi is proud to come from an immigrant family but feels the UK should control its borders.”
Meanwhile, Jeremy Hunt – seen as a centrist candidate – has even promised to expand the program to other countries.
“I hope we can find other countries besides Rwanda,” Hunt told the Sunday Telegraph.
He also told Sky News: ‘Yes, but we need to make sure it works and I’m not convinced it’s working at the moment.
“But we have to be honest that migration has become vastly more mobile in a globalized world in recent years and therefore, if we want to become a humane country that provides a safe haven for people who really need asylum, then we need legal safe routes for people. to come here and not a crazy procession for people to put their lives in the hands of people smugglers and try to cross the Channel.’
On Friday, Downing Street confirmed that the Home Office agreement with Rwanda would remain in place despite Boris Johnson’s resignation and suggested the first deportation flight could be made before a legal challenge against the policy is heard on July 19.
The Prime Minister’s official spokesman said: “This is a pre-agreed government policy.
“The convention does not prevent or preclude the government from pursuing those policies and that includes defending cases in court as required.”
In April, Home Secretary Priti Patel signed what she called a ‘world first’ agreement to send migrants believed to have arrived in the UK illegally to Rwanda.
The first deportation flight – due to take off in June – was grounded amid legal difficulties.
Steve Valdez-Symonds, of Amnesty International UK, has urged the government to reconsider the ‘disastrous plan’, claiming it was ‘irresponsible and insensitive’, adding: ‘The UK government is so far removed from the reality and lack of humanity that they destroy not only the asylum system, but also people’s lives.’
No more flights will be attempted until Boris Johnson (pictured) leaves his office, sources say
A spokesman for the Interior Ministry said: ‘The government will not be deterred if we plan for the next flight to Rwanda. We will detain individuals where necessary and if we are released on bail we can try to tag them if necessary.”
More than 400 migrants arrived in the UK yesterday after crossing the Channel.
The Department of Defense (MoD) said 442 people made the trip in 15 boats, which is an average of about 29 per boat.
Among them were several young children, including one holding a stuffed animal.
It is the highest daily total since 444 were recorded on June 14, and it marks the fifth time this year that the number has surpassed 400.
April 13 remains the highest figure to date in 2022, with 651.
The crossings continued on Tuesday and large numbers of people were expected on the Kent coast.
So far this year, some 13,749 people have made the crossing after navigating busy shipping routes from France in small boats such as dinghies, preliminary government figures show.