The Foreign Office tried to ruin the Rwanda scheme amid concerns for human rights, leaked documents have revealed.
It is believed that the Government department attempted to remove Rwanda from a list of countries chosen for "offshore" processing of asylum seekers deported from the UK.
Civil servants warned that the decision could cause fury among Commonwealth partners.
A Government memo suggested any scheme could trigger "potentially significant" rejections under the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR), The Telegraph reports.
The Foreign Office tried to ruin the Rwanda scheme amid concerns for human rights, leaked documents have revealed
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Parliamentary votes on the topic will go ahead today as Rishi Sunak confirmed flights shipping illegal migrants to Rwanda will take off in 10-12 weeks, as he vows "no foreign court will stop us".
Speaking at a press conference on Monday morning, the Prime Minister promised to end the parliamentary deadlock that has stifled his efforts to push through the legislation.
The newly unveiled documents will likely bring further criticism of the legislation on both sides of the argument.
Some MPs have blasted the Government over the memo as it "failed" to eliminate legal risks under the ECHR.
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A senior Tory source said: "These are bombshell revelations. The Government knew all along that ECHR rights would thwart the Rwanda scheme and yet ploughed on regardless.
"They’ve conned the public it would be fine.
"The Prime Minister was then Chancellor – he’s known this the whole time and he was warned repeatedly when he became PM that his measures didn’t go far enough."
The document was created in 2022 when the Government was considering nine countries for partnership deals.
Officials at the Foreign Office, then led by Dominic Raab, were required to submit the department’s views on the suitability of each country
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Chiefs at the Foreign Office were required to submit their views on the suitability of each country to receive migrants.
The Foreign Office headed the removal of Rwanda from list of possibilities for the scheme.
"FS [Foreign Secretary’s] private office have provided us with a clear steer not to proceed given our Commonwealth equities in the run-up to Chogm [Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting]," the document stated.
MPs are expected to reject the Lords’ two amendments to Sunak’s Rwanda Bill before sending it back to the upper house.
A Home Office spokesperson said: "The British people have made clear they want us to stop the boats. The Rwanda plan is a bold and innovative solution to deter illegal migrants coming to the UK.
"The longer this Bill is delayed, the more vulnerable migrants will be lured into unseaworthy boats and risk their lives."
