UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak is expected to reject calls for a strict plan regarding the deportation of Channel migrants to Rwanda. Instead, the government intends to keep an option open for European judges to intervene in the process.
This decision comes amid growing concerns from right-wing members of the Conservative Party, who have been pressing for a hardline approach to the deportation of migrants arriving via small boats, as per Mail Online.
UK Prime Minister's ECHR Debate on Rwanda Asylum Plan
DUBAI, UNITED ARAB EMIRATES - DECEMBER 01: British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak speaks during day one of the high-level segment of the UNFCCC COP28 Climate Conference at Expo City Dubai on December 1, 2023 in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. The COP28, which is running from November 30 through December 12, brings together stakeholders, including international heads of states and other leaders, scientists, environmentalists, indigenous peoples representatives, activists and others to discuss and agree on the implementation of global measures towards mitigating the effects of climate change.
The Prime Minister is discussing plans under which the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) in Strasbourg will retain the authority to consider whether Channel migrants can be sent to Rwanda.
Foreign Secretary Lord Cameron has emphasized the need for "flexibility" on the part of Strasbourg judges. Meanwhile, the Home Secretary, James Cleverly, recently traveled to Rwanda to finalize a new treaty addressing concerns raised by the Supreme Court.
Under this treaty, almost all boat migrants will be granted residency in Rwanda, even those with failed asylum claims. However, the Rwandan government will retain the power to veto any asylum seeker, and the UK will accept a portion of Rwanda's refugees, incurring additional costs beyond the £140 ($176) million already spent.
Mr. Sunak is currently working with lawyers on emergency legislation that will declare Rwanda a "safe country" for deportation. This legislation, expected to be introduced soon, aims to address the concerns raised by the Supreme Court's ruling that declared the government's Rwanda policy unlawful.
One Nation Tory MPs are urging caution, with Chairman Damian Green stating that "long-term, difficult decisions" should not be rushed. On the other hand, Centrist Tory MPs have warned that overriding the European Convention on Human Rights to implement the Rwanda asylum plan would be a "red line" for them.
Members of the right-wing European Research Group (ERG), along with MPs from Common Sense and New Conservative groups, have set up a "Star Chamber" to evaluate the new laws' compatibility with parliamentary sovereignty and its wording regarding deportation flights to Rwanda, according to The Sun.
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UK Parliament Concerns
ERG chairman Mark Francois cautioned against rushing Parliament into supporting the legislation without a thorough assessment. Moderate Conservative MPs have also expressed concerns, with Stephen Hammond highlighting the Prime Minister's challenging task of balancing economic considerations, the labor market, and immigration control.
Despite the government's efforts to expedite the deportation of migrants to Rwanda, Home Secretary Cleverly admitted that he could not guarantee that any deportations would occur before the next general election.
The government believes that the formal treaty signed with Rwanda, along with anticipated emergency legislation, will address the Supreme Court's concerns and allow deportation flights to commence.
While the UK government is taking steps to reduce migration levels, including net migration, the exact cost of the new deal with Rwanda remains undisclosed. The government has faced pressure from its own MPs to significantly reduce legal migration levels following a rise in net migration to 745,000 in 2022.
Ministers have not provided a specific timeline for the first deportation flight to Rwanda, as the "emergency" legislation is still being debated within the government. The government's five-point plan for immigration includes several measures aimed at achieving a "very significant reduction in net migration" in the coming months, sparking speculation of a possible election in the near future, Yahoo News reported.
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