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Prime ministers

Tory Infighting Erupts Over Rwanda Asylum Policy Reforms

Strategic Insights

— 1 min read

Rishi Sunak has sparked controversy among Tories by introducing legislation to revive the stalled Rwanda asylum policy, sparking a heated debate on the party's right-wing. The draft bill, published on Wednesday, would compel judges to consider Rwanda a safe country, effectively allowing the UK to disregard sections of the Human Rights Act. However, the move has been met with criticism from hardliners, including sacked home secretary Suella Braverman, who claims the bill is "fatally flawed" and will lead to electoral oblivion.

Key Takeaways:

  • The draft bill published on Wednesday aims to revive the Rwanda asylum policy by treating the East African nation as a safe country.
  • The legislation gives ministers the power to disregard sections of the Human Rights Act, but does not provide powers to dismiss the European Convention on Human Rights, as demanded by hardliners.
  • The bill has been met with criticism from the Tory right, with sacked home secretary Suella Braverman calling it "fatally flawed" and warning it will lead to electoral oblivion.
  • The European Research Group (ERG) will assemble its "star chamber" of lawyers to scrutinise the legislation before the Commons vote.
  • Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer has criticized the policy as a "gimmick" that will give Rwanda "hundreds of millions of pounds for nothing in return."
  • Rwanda's foreign affairs minister Vincent Biruta has stressed the importance of the UK's legislation complying with international law to maintain the Migration and Economic Development Partnership.

Statistics:

  • The draft bill aims to control small boat crossings of the Channel, which have been a major point of contention for the UK government.
  • The legislation would compel judges to treat Rwanda as a safe country, effectively allowing the UK to disregard sections of the Human Rights Act.
  • The bill does not provide powers to dismiss the European Convention on Human Rights, as demanded by hardliners.
  • The ERG is set to scrutinise the legislation before the Commons vote, with the party's right-wing MPs potentially causing further controversy.
  • The UK government is hoping to get the policy first announced in April last year off the ground with the publication of the legislation.

Sources:

  • The Times
  • The 1922 Committee of backbench Conservatives
  • The European Research Group (ERG)
  • Labour Party (Sir Keir Starmer)
  • Rwanda Government (Vincent Biruta)
  • Reuters news agency

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