Revealed: Civil servants blocked Rwanda-style deportation deal with Uganda over ‘LGBT concerns’

GB News understands that discussions were conducted at embassy level but that Foreign Commonwealth, and Development Office (FCDO) officials threw up objections on human rights grounds.

The revelations come amid reports that the Dutch government is in talks with the Ugandans to launch a similar deal for processing asylum seekers.

Under the proposals, Africans who failed in their asylum applications will be deported and hosted in Uganda.

Describing Uganda as a “hospitable country,” Dutch development minister Reinette Klever said: “For the Government, it is important that rejected asylum seekers return to their country of origin. And that is where it sometimes stalls.”

But Whitehall sources told this broadcaster that FCDO officials did not share Klever’s perspective on Uganda being a hospitable nation, with concerns raised over its track record on human rights and LGBT abuses.

In 2023, the country introduced an Anti-Homosexuality Act, which Human Rights Watch described as “radical and abusive”.

• 'Demonised and banned!' Frank Furedi launches blistering attack on those silencing free speech and two-tier Britain
• POLL OF THE DAY: Do you agree with Rachel Reeves' raid on inheritance tax?
• 'The Tories desperately need Kemi Badenoch - she's refreshing, dynamic and can reach out to new voters'

Under the European Convention of Human Rights, Strasbourg can block deportations if an illegal migrant could face degrading treatment if they are returned or deported to a third-party location.

Last year, former Home Secretary Suella Braverman said that discrimination for being gay should not guarantee refugee protection.

GB News was told that a deal could have been done with Uganda had there been sufficient political will under Rishi Sunak’s premiership, but there wasn’t.

An official with knowledge of the matter said: “The Dutch are now doing what Britain was told it can’t do because of European law.

“Numerous countries are open to these deals. The Foreign Office just refused to pursue any of them.”

They added: “This is another example of how, if we were out of ECHR, all sorts of policy options, like Rwanda, become viable.”

Robert Jenrick said: “Other European countries are proceeding with third-country removals to secure their borders. Instead of strengthening the Rwanda deterrent, Labour has scrapped it and left us dangerously exposed.”

Kemi Badenoch did not comment.

The Foreign Office would not comment on decisions taken by the previous Government.