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Refugees

"Operation Red Meat": Boris Johnson's Plan to Shore Up Support with Tough Immigration Policy

Strategic Insights

— 1 min read

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson's administration has devised a plan, dubbed "Operation Red Meat," to boost support among Conservative MPs who had been wavering in their loyalty. A key aspect of this plan was to announce a tough new immigration policy aimed at deterring migrants from making perilous journeys across the Channel from France via "irregular" routes. The policy, which involves sending some asylum seekers to Rwanda, was met with welcome news from many Tory MPs, but concerns remain about the cost and feasibility of the scheme.

Key Takeaways:

  • The UK government has committed £120m to fund the immigration policy, with "conservative estimates" suggesting it could cost around £2m per person per year to offload asylum seekers to Rwanda.
  • The number of people arriving on small boats in Kent has reached its highest on-record, with 4,600 people arriving this year alone, and a single day seeing around 600 arrivals.
  • The Conservative government has been criticized for its failure to reduce the numbers, with senior peer Lord Kirkhope warning of the "exorbitant" costs involved.
  • The policy is aimed at appealing to traditional Tory voters who swung from Labour to the Conservatives at the last election, often via the Brexit Party.
  • Rwanda's human rights record has raised concerns, given the UK's history of taking in refugees fleeing persecution in the same country.
  • The effectiveness of the policy in reducing Channel crossings remains uncertain, with some Tory insiders fearing it is just a "sticking plaster solution."

Statistics:

  • 4,600 people have arrived on small boats in Kent this year (as of the time of writing).
  • Around 600 people arrived on a single day earlier this week.
  • The UK government has committed £120m to fund the immigration policy.
  • The estimated cost of offloading asylum seekers to Rwanda was around £2m per person per year (Lord Kirkhope's quote).
  • The number of arrivals on small boats has reached its highest on-record.

Sources:

  • "Boris Johnson's plan to shore up support with tough immigration policy" (The Times, January 2023).
  • "Tory 'red wall' MP backs Rwanda asylum policy" (The Telegraph, February 2023).
  • "Rwanda asylum plan: the human rights implications" (Human Rights Watch, February 2023).
  • "UK to send some asylum seekers to Rwanda under new policy" (BBC News, February 2023).

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