Rishi Sunak set to give Rwanda another £15 MILLION as he attempts to save asylum plan

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak addresses national delegations during the First Part of the High-Level Segment for Heads of States and Governments during the COP28, UN Climate Change Conference, held by UNFCCC in Dubai Exhibition Center

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Jack Walters

By Jack Walters


Published: 03/12/2023

- 09:12

Home Secretary James Cleverly looks set to fly to the East African country in the coming days

Rishi Sunak will give Rwanda another £15million in a bid to curb Channel crossing migrants, a report has claimed.

The Prime Minister will cough up the extra cash in an attempt to pay for extra personnel to improve and expand the Rwandan asylum processing system.


Britain previously handed the East African country £140million and figures in Government have reportedly discussed bringing forward payments.

A new accord is nearly complete, Whitehall sources have suggested to The Times.

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Home Secretary James Cleverly is expected to fly to Rwanda on Monday or Tuesday.

The move comes amid plans to put forward new legislation by Thursday.

Sunak is also poised to table emergency legislative measures designed to address the criticisms made by the Supreme Court.

The Supreme Court last month declared the Rwanda policy was unlawful.

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Ministers will now publish an “evidence pack” to show that asylum seekers will not face maltreatment or deportation to their country of origin once they have been moved from the UK to Rwanda.

Sunak is reportedly hoping the legislation will pass through the Commons and Lords by the middle of February.

However, the latest move will likely reignite speculation about the Prime Minister calling an election by spring.

Labour yesterday claimed a flurry of Channel crossings this weekend would probably bring this year’s total level with the figures recorded in 2021.

James Cleverly

James Cleverly

PA

The 2021 total was 28,526 and there have been 28,453 so far this year.

Shadow Home Secretary Yvette Cooper said: “Rishi Sunak claimed he would stop the small boats this year, but instead this weekend’s figures are set to make it the second highest year of crossings on record.

“The Tory asylum chaos is continuing and he has broken another promise he made to the British people.”

The UK has paid £120 million plus an additional £20 million for setup costs to Rwanda.

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