The government hopes it can start sending asylum seekers to Rwanda in a few weeks, according to Boris Johnson’s political leader.
The UK government is trying to quell the crossing of the English Channel in small boats, and as part of plans, the Home Office has signed the world’s first agreement with Rwanda to send migrants to the African country without access to the sea.
The interior ministry said on Thursday that the first people sent to Rwanda will be officially notified in the coming weeks, with the first flights taking place in the next few months.
Read more: First look at the center, which will house migrants from the English Channel
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2:44 A look at the detention centers in Rwanda
However, Andrew Griffith, director of policy department number 10, said it could become operational in “weeks”.
“This does not require new legislation, we think we can do it under existing conventions,” he told Newsnight.
“It must therefore be possible to apply this operationally in weeks or a small number of months. We are ready to continue in this sense. “
More on the passage of migrants
According to The Times, the prime minister wants the first flight to start next month, with thousands of people relocated over the next few years.
A “distraction” worth £ 120 million
Welsh Minister Simon Hart told Sky News that the deal would initially cost the UK around £ 120 million.
Priti Patel told a news conference in Kigali on Thursday, confirming that the United Kingdom and Rwanda had signed a new partnership on migration and economic development to “end this deadly trafficking in human smuggling”.
She said the United Kingdom was “making significant investments” in Rwanda’s development through a move that would improve the lives of the country’s people.
“This is a global problem, with many countries struggling to meet the challenges and causes, and there is no one-size-fits-all solution,” he said.
She added that Rwanda “is a safe and secure country with respect for the rule of law and obviously a number of institutions that have developed and developed over time”.
The agreement was widely criticized, with Labor leader Sir Keir Starmer describing it as a “pathetic distraction” from the partygate, and the Tory Reform Group calling it “wrong and irresponsible”.
Read more: Why are migrants sent to Rwanda and how will it work?
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15:00 defends the plan for Rwanda
The Prime Minister defended the partnership and said: “This is the morally right thing to do and the humane and compassionate thing.
“We cannot allow people to continue to die at sea, paying huge sums to the pursuers of evil people who are simply exploiting their hopes and ambitions.
“We need to encourage them to take the safe and legal path if they want to come to this country.”
View from Rwanda
There was also criticism of the agreement in Rwanda, with the nation’s opposition leader arguing that her country should not be able to keep up with British migration.
Victor Ingabire told Sky News: “If our people do not have enough food, if our children or the children of Rwanda do not have the opportunity to go to school due to poverty, how will the Rwandan government educate the children of refugees?”
However, some Rwandans who spoke to Sky News seemed to support the scheme.
“They may be called migrants or whatever, but they are just people,” Eric told Shingi Mararike in Kigali.
“We are all one human race.”
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7:43 What does Rwanda think of the scheme?
The human rights record in Rwanda is in question
Human rights groups have condemned the move as inhumane, while others have said it was unfeasible and a waste of money.
According to Freedom House, a non-profit organization funded by the US government, Rwanda has poor results for political rights and civil liberties.
The Rwanda report for 2022 states that “children are subject to domestic trafficking in domestic services under conditions of abuse”, many of whom work “informally in the agricultural sector”.
“Young Congolese and Burundian refugees are vulnerable to sexual exploitation and forced recruitment into armed groups linked to Rwanda’s security forces,” it added.
Mr Johnson acknowledged there would be legal challenges, but promised to take on “politically motivated lawyers” to prevent the partnership from ending in court.
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