New Laws and Treaty with Kigali Stalled
Rishi Sunak's emergency plan to establish flights between the UK and Rwanda is facing delays due to a split within the Cabinet, led by Home Secretary James Cleverly. The Prime Minister had promised new laws and a treaty with Kigali after the Supreme Court struck down his original deal earlier this month. However, disagreements over the use of emergency powers and leaving the European Convention of Human Rights have caused divisions within the Tory party.
Immigration Minister Backs Emergency Powers to Stop Deportations
One proposal on the table, reportedly supported by Immigration Minister Robert Jenrick, is to implement emergency powers that would prevent human rights laws from being used to halt deportations. However, Home Secretary Cleverly and Attorney General Victoria Prentis are said to oppose this plan. Cleverly's remarks suggesting that flights are not the sole solution have raised concerns about his support for the Rwanda plan.
Delays in Unveiling New Treaty and Emergency Laws
Despite initial assurances from No10 that a new treaty with Rwanda would be revealed "within days" of the Supreme Court ruling, 11 days have passed with no progress. It is now expected that both the treaty and emergency laws will be delayed until the following week. A Tory source expressed frustration, emphasizing the urgency of the situation and the need for swift action.
Disagreements and Hurdles
Discussions between various departments are ongoing, and the proposed law has yet to be presented to the Prime Minister. Furthermore, the planned new treaty has encountered obstacles. In an effort to demonstrate the reliability of the refugee and asylum process in Rwanda, No10 intends to deploy more Home Office workers to Kigali. However, Rwandan officials have deemed these demands excessive. A government source emphasized the importance of prioritizing the prompt initiation of flights rather than engaging in ideological battles.
