James Cleverly has pledged to bring back the Rwanda scheme if he is elected next Conservative leader and prime minister. The shadow home secretary said he would rebuild the UK’s relationship with Rwanda, as he launched his Tory leadership bid.
The previous government had planned to send some asylum seekers to Rwanda, with the aim of deterring people from crossing the English Channel in small boats. Labour scrapped the scheme after taking office in July, and said the “gimmick” had cost taxpayers £700m.
Last month, Home Secretary Yvette Cooper said some of the money saved would be invested in a new Border Security Command, designed to crack down on people-smuggling gangs. In a speech at the Old War Office in London, Mr Cleverly said his party “must restore our credibility” on migration control to win back voters who switched to Reform and other parties at the general election. When we deal with illegal migration, I stand by what I have always said: we need to have a deterrent,” the former cabinet minister said.
He said he would use his contacts and reputation with Rwanda to “resurrect that incredibly important partnership”. And more than that, I will rebuild a relationship so badly damaged by Labour’s arrogant disregard to the diplomatic niceties that bind the world,” Mr Cleverly said.
Mr Cleverly’s campaign team told the BBC the scheme might be not exactly the same as it was under the previous government because of the way Labour had cancelled and handled the partnership with Rwanda.
His leadership pitch also included pledges to spend 3% of GDP on defence, abolish stamp duty on the sale of homes, and bring down the welfare budget.
Source: BBC
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