The UK says it has paid Rwanda $300 million for a blocked asylum deal. No flights have taken off
LONDON , UK— Prime Minister Rishi Sunak was under pressure Friday to explain why Britain has paid Rwanda 240 million pounds ($300 million) as part of a blocked asylum plan, without a single person being sent to the East African country.
The total is almost twice the 140 million pounds that Britain previously said it had handed to the Rwandan government under a deal struck in April 2022. Under the agreement, migrants who reach Britain across the English Channel would be sent to Rwanda, where their asylum claims would be processed and, if successful, they would stay.
The plan was challenged in U.K. courts, and no flights to Rwanda have taken off. Last month, Britain’s Supreme Court ruled the policy was illegal because Rwanda isn’t a safe country for refugees.
The Home Office said it had paid a further 100 million pounds to Rwanda in the 2023-24 financial year and expects to hand over 50 million pounds more in the coming 12 months.
Junior Immigration Minister Tom Pursglove defended the cost, saying the money would ensure “all of the right infrastructure to support the partnership is in place.”
“Part of that money is helpful in making sure that we can respond to the issues properly that the Supreme Court raised,” he said.
The opposition Liberal Democrats said it was “an unforgivable waste of taxpayers’ money.”
The Home Office said it had paid a further 100 million pounds to Rwanda in the 2023-24 financial year and expects to hand over 50 million pounds more in the coming 12 months.
Junior Immigration Minister Tom Pursglove defended the cost, saying the money would ensure “all of the right infrastructure to support the partnership is in place.”
“Part of that money is helpful in making sure that we can respond to the issues properly that the Supreme Court raised,” he said.
The opposition Liberal Democrats said it was “an unforgivable waste of taxpayers’ money.”
The Home Office said it had paid a further 100 million pounds to Rwanda in the 2023-24 financial year and expects to hand over 50 million pounds more in the coming 12 months.
Junior Immigration Minister Tom Pursglove defended the cost, saying the money would ensure “all of the right infrastructure to support the partnership is in place.”
“Part of that money is helpful in making sure that we can respond to the issues properly that the Supreme Court raised,” he said.
The opposition Liberal Democrats said it was “an unforgivable waste of taxpayers’ money.”
While some Tory lawmakers retweeted the middle-finger image approvingly on X, formerly known as Twitter, others called it crass.
“Amazed this has not – despite requests – been taken down, it is beneath us,” Conservative legislator Alicia Kearns posted.
AP
