The president of Rwanda has stated that there are restrictions to the amount of time that can be spent trying to carry out an agreement for asylum with Britain. He expressed that he would not mind if the plan was abandoned.
On Wednesday, Paul Kagame made remarks before Rishi Sunak faced a possible revolt from Conservative MPs who were considering voting against his bill to deport individuals to Rwanda.
When questioned by the Guardian about his awareness of the ongoing discussion in London at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Kagame stated: “It is not a concern for us, but rather a problem for the UK.”
On Wednesday night, Members of Parliament (MPs) will cast their vote on the third and final reading of the Rwanda bill. Approximately twelve members of the Conservative party have stated their intention to vote against it. The bill will only fail if a minimum of twenty-nine Tories vote against it.
However, Kagame expressed annoyance in comments that may cause concern in London. He seemed frustrated with the prolonged discussion regarding the processing of asylum seekers in Rwanda. “There is a limit to how much longer this can continue,” he stated.
When asked about the effectiveness of the UK deal, he responded by saying, “That is a question for the UK to answer. It is their responsibility, not ours.”
Kagame seems to have suggested a change in the stance of the Rwandan government regarding reimbursing the UK for the funds already received as part of the agreement.
When questioned about the funds allocated to the program, he stated: “The funds will be utilized for those individuals who participate. If they do not participate, we can refund the money.”
The UK government stated that they have paid Rwanda approximately £240m as a part of the agreement, with an additional £50m set to be paid in the 2024-25 fiscal year. Two more payments are also planned.
Last year, a spokesperson for the Rwandan government stated that there is no policy for reimbursement as the funds have already been designated for various infrastructure initiatives. When asked about the possibility of the UK receiving a refund, the spokesperson for the prime minister responded by saying, “Our priority is ensuring the advancement of that legislation through the legislative process.”
However, Yvette Cooper, the opposition’s spokesperson for home affairs, took advantage of this situation to add pressure on the government. She stated, “If Rwanda is offering to return the money from this ineffective program, Rishi Sunak should take action instead of prolonging the chaos surrounding asylum policies under the Conservative party. We require strong and efficient management, not more ineffective tactics.”
Conservative extremists also used Kagame’s statement as proof that the Rwanda program must disregard international law in order to appease the Rwandan leader.
According to a source within the rebellion, the government’s strategy, as explained by the illegal migration minister Michael Tomlinson this morning, will require hundreds of judges to process thousands of claims. This process is expected to take several months at the very least.
Rwanda is seeking a fast-working plan, rather than one that caters to the preferences of our attorney general. Therefore, the government should support our plan. If things continue at this pace, it will be the Labor party who will have to reimburse the funds.
Additionally, while addressing the audience in Davos, the foreign secretary, David Cameron, expressed his belief that the third reading of the Rwanda bill would be approved in the House of Commons.
During the Q&A session, he acknowledged that Sunak’s approach to asylum was unconventional, but emphasized the importance of innovative solutions to address illegal immigration.
During the prime minister’s question session, Sunak faced criticism regarding Rwanda. Specifically, Keir Starmer, the leader of the Labour party, asked him three times about the whereabouts of 4,250 individuals who were supposed to be relocated to Rwanda but have reportedly been lost by the government.
The prime minister alleged that Labour was hindering the government’s efforts to address illegal immigration. He also stated that 20,000 individuals had been deported and that there had been an increase in enforcement raids.
However, Sunak was also reprimanded by speaker Lindsay Hoyle for displaying a copy of the document Human Rights Law, which Prime Minister Johnson claimed was written by Starmer.
The prime minister stated that the Labour leader wrote “their textbook” and has a greater interest in the opinions of left-leaning lawyers.
Hoyle interrupted Sunak, stating: “I would like to remind you that we do not use props in this household.”
Source: theguardian.com
