Eye-watering Hotel Bills Overshadow £150m Payment
Ministers in the UK have defended the decision to provide an additional £150 million to Rwanda, despite no migrants being removed from the country. This brings the total amount sent to Kigali to £290 million. The move comes as ministers face scrutiny over the high costs of hotel bills for migrants.
Home Office Chief Discloses Payment Details
Chief Home Office mandarin Sir Matthew Rycroft revealed that £100 million has been sent to Rwanda this year, with an expected £50 million to be provided next year. Rycroft had previously refused to disclose these figures during a parliamentary committee meeting.
Cash Seen as Value for Money by Immigration Minister
Newly appointed immigration minister Tom Pursglove defended the cash injection, stating that it is a worthwhile investment if it helps to remove migrants from hotels. With the UK currently spending £8 million per day on the asylum system, Pursglove argued that the current situation is unsustainable.
Labour Criticizes Wasted Taxpayers' Money
Labour MP Yvette Cooper criticized the government's handling of the scheme, describing the £290 million expenditure as a waste of taxpayers' money. Cooper questioned the effectiveness of the deportation scheme, highlighting the fact that no asylum seekers have been sent to Rwanda.
Additional Costs and Treaty with Rwanda
Although Home Secretary James Cleverly claimed that the treaty with Rwanda has not cost Britain any new money, there are additional costs associated with the agreement, including funding for legal aid to asylum seekers. Cleverly recently signed a new treaty with Rwanda to address concerns raised by critics.
PM Vows to Continue with Rwanda Plan
Prime Minister Boris Johnson has vowed to push ahead with his Rwanda deportation plan despite facing opposition from within his own party. Johnson has appealed to rebellious MPs to support him in stopping small boats, but has not made the upcoming vote on the emergency legislation a "confidence" issue.
Overall, the decision to provide £150 million to Rwanda for deportation efforts has drawn criticism from opposition MPs, who argue that the scheme has been ineffective and a waste of taxpayers' money. However, government ministers maintain that the investment is necessary to address the unsustainable costs of the asylum system.
Did you miss our previous article…
https://hellofaread.com/politics/bbc-licence-fee-could-face-review-and-potential-changes/
