Sunak clears the air on Rwanda plan  

January 9, 2024

However, he did not rule out having voiced concerns about the cost of sending asylum seekers to the east African country when at the Treasury…reports Asian Lite News

Ruling out that he had doubts on the Rwanda plan as Chancellor, Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has said it was his job to ensure value for money on every proposal while he was in the Treasury.

According to The Evening Standard, Sunak said it was “wrong” to infer that he did not back the scheme to stop channel crossing, following a BBC report, which said he was not convinced of the plan’s effectiveness.

Citing No 10 papers from March 22, the BBC said last week that Sunak was also concerned about the cost of sending asylum seekers to Africa and wanted to limit the numbers.

Sunak said he has not seen the documents the report was based on as he appeared on the BBC on Sunday.

However, he did not rule out having voiced concerns about the cost of sending asylum seekers to the east African country when at the Treasury.

“My job (was) to ask probing questions of every proposal that crossed my desk as chancellor,” the Conservative Party leader told the BBC.

“You should always ask probing questions, you should always approach things from a position of scepticism to ensure that you get value for money for taxpayers.

“But to infer from that that I don’t believe in the scheme or the principle of deterrence is wrong. I was doing my job to get good value for money for taxpayers,” the Prime Minister added.

The documents had said that as Chancellor, Sunak felt “hotels are cheaper” than reception centres to house migrants, and was reluctant to fund “Greek-style reception centres” at a cost of 3.5 million pounds per day.

The Rwanda plan, launched in April 2022 by then Prime Minister Boris Johnson, became the core of Sunak’s policy to stop the boats — one of five key priorities, which he set out to achieve when he became the premier in October the same year.

Calling the British Government to publish the No 10 papers, Labour MP Yvette Cooper said: “It is time the Tory Government was honest with the public, and publish both the papers outlining Rishi Sunak’s concerns and the full details of the cost of the scheme.”

ALSO READ-Cameron throws weight behind Rwanda Bill  

Previous Story

Met Office issues new ice warning in UK

Next Story

‘Record British ethnic minority MPs to sit in Commons’

Latest from -Top News

Sisi, MBZ cement ties

UAE and Egypt bolster ties through high-level talks in Abu Dhabi and a landmark cardiac care initiative delivering lifesaving treatment to rural

70,000 Gaza kids starve

WFP warned that any further escalation of conflict could paralyse relief operations altogether, deepening the plight of civilians—especially children, the elderly, and

Prayers on the Mount

The Day of Arafat, considered the pinnacle of the Hajj pilgrimage, witnessed a congregation of believers from around the world As the

EID MUBARAK!

UAE marks Eid Al Adha with housing support, children’s gifts, pardons, and cultural celebrations, reflecting a national spirit of compassion, unity, and

Don't Miss