Rishi Sunak raised doubts over Rwanda migrants plan as chancellor – report

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Rishi Sunak was not sure the federal government’s scheme to ship migrants to Rwanda would cease channel crossings when he was chancellor, in keeping with paperwork.

The BBC stated it had seen No 10 papers from March 2022, a month earlier than the plan was introduced by then prime minister Boris Johnson, which confirmed that Mr Sunak was not satisfied of the plan’s effectiveness.

Mr Sunak, who grew to become prime minister in October 2022, has made the Rwanda plan one in every of his prime priorities regardless of a string of delays as a consequence of authorized challenges.

The paperwork counsel Mr Sunak felt “hotels are cheaper” than reception centres to deal with migrants and that he was additionally involved about the price of sending asylum seekers to Africa and wished to restrict the numbers.

The BBC stated the paperwork revealed the “chancellor wants to pursue smaller volumes initially” with 500 flown to Rwanda within the first 12 months of the scheme, as a substitute of the proposed 1,500.

They say he then proposed “3,000 instead of 5,000 in years two and three”.

He is described as believing the “deterrent won’t work”.

The paperwork, which say No 10 steered Mr Sunak wanted to “consider his popularity with the base” over the Rwanda plan, stated the then chancellor was reluctant to fund “Greek-style reception centres” at a price of £3.5 million a day to deal with migrants in favour of lodges.

Mr Sunak has pledged to proceed with the plan for migrant flights to Rwanda, regardless of a ruling by the UK Supreme Court that it was illegal, whereas the BBC stated a supply near the prime minister stated he was “always fully behind the principle of the scheme” however want to make sure cash was “appropriately spent” in his function as chancellor.

Shadow residence secretary Yvette Cooper instructed the BBC: “The prime minister knew the plan was incredibly costly and wouldn’t work, and resisted it while he was chancellor.

“But he is so weak he has now agreed to write cheques to Rwanda for £400 million without sending a single person there in a desperate attempt to shore up his leadership.”

Mr Sunak reiterated his assist for the Rwanda plan on Tuesday, saying: “I am focused on delivering on my commitment to stop the boats and get flights off the ground to Rwanda.”