Rishi Sunak's Emergency Rwanda Plan Faces Delays Amid Cabinet Split

New Laws and Treaty with Kigali

Rishi Sunak's emergency plan to establish flights to Rwanda has encountered delays due to a split within the Cabinet, led by the new Home Secretary. The Prime Minister had pledged to introduce new laws and a treaty with Kigali after the Supreme Court invalidated his original agreement. However, progress on these initiatives has been hindered by disagreements within the Tory party.

Cabinet Split over Human Rights Laws

Home Secretary James Cleverly has caused division within the Tory party by expressing concerns about leaving the European Convention of Human Rights. He argues that doing so may hinder efforts to combat illegal migration. Immigration Minister Robert Jenrick supports a proposal that would grant emergency powers to prevent human rights laws from impeding deportations. However, Cleverly and Attorney General Victoria Prentis are reportedly opposed to this idea.

Concerns about Cleverly's Support

James Cleverly's remarks in The Times, where he downplayed the significance of the flights to Rwanda, have raised doubts about his support for the government's plan. He stated that the flights are not the "be all and end all" of the issue, prompting criticism from Tory Red Waller Jonathan Gullis, who emphasized the party's promise to stop illegal migration.

Delays in Unveiling Treaty and Emergency Laws

Despite initial claims that a new treaty with Rwanda would be announced shortly after the Supreme Court ruling, there have been significant delays. Both the treaty and the emergency laws could now be postponed until the following week. A Tory source expressed frustration, stating that the situation is an emergency and action needs to be taken swiftly.

Disagreements Over Emergency Laws

Immigration Minister Robert Jenrick is advocating for emergency laws that explicitly state that the Human Rights Act and the European Convention on Human Rights cannot be used to prevent deportations. Discussions between departments are ongoing, and the proposed legislation has yet to be presented to the Prime Minister.

Challenges with the Planned Treaty

In addition to the delays, the proposed treaty with Rwanda has encountered obstacles. The government aims to increase the presence of Home Office staff in Kigali to assume greater responsibility for the refugee and asylum process, thereby demonstrating the reliability of the system to the courts. However, Rwandan officials have expressed concerns about the scale of these demands.

Priority on Getting Planes Off the Ground

A government source emphasized the importance of expediting the establishment of flights to Rwanda, stating that the focus should be on swift action rather than ideological conflicts.