>Boris Johnson has abandoned his aim to send the first asylum-seekers to Rwanda this month, in the first sign of the controversial deportation plan hitting trouble.
>
>When the “one way ticket” agreement was signed last month, No 10 said it expected the first flights to the central African state to take off within “weeks” and before the end of May.
>
>But Mr Johnson’s spokesman said it would be a “matter of months” before any would-be refugees crossing the Channel are deported – potentially after the peak summer season for crossings.
>
>Asked why the timetable is “slipping”, the spokesperson pointed to legal challenges against the policy – while also insisting court action would not put it “on hold”.
>
>Experts had poured scorn on Mr Johnson’s claim that the scheme could start almost immediately, some doubting whether any migrants and refugees will ever be sent to Rwanda.
[…]
>The prime minister has argued legal powers already exist to allow asylum-seekers to be sent to Rwanda, but critics argue it breaches both the European Convention on Human Rights and the Geneva Convention.
–
–
>After an 11-day pause amid bad weather, around 550 people have crossed from France in small boats in the last two days, scotching claims by some Tory MPs that the Rwanda threat is already acting as a deterrent.
–
>Although it was initially briefed that only single men would be flown out, the home secretary Priti Patel has since admitted that women and children could also be sent.
>She has also refused to reveal the likely colossal cost of the policy, beyond an initial £120m to be handed to Rwanda under the “partnership” deal.
>The plan has also embroiled the prime minister in a damaging row with the Church of England, after the Archbishop of Canterbury attacked it as anti-Christian.
>The Home Office’s top civil servant warned Ms Patel that there is no evidence to back up the claim that deporting refugees to Rwanda will curb trafficking across the Channel.
>23 Apr 2022: [*Priti Patel ‘was banking on’ never having to implement cruel Rwanda asylum plan*](https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/politics/priti-patel-was-banking-on-26781252)
>
>Senior Tories claim the Home Secretary hoped it would become so bogged down in legal challenges she would never have to get it off the ground and it would be quietly forgotten
>
>-
>
>Senior Tories say Priti Patel was always banking on never having to implement her cruel plan to send asylum seekers to Rwanda.
>
>They claim the Home Secretary hoped it would become so bogged down in legal challenges she would never have to get it off the ground and it would be quietly forgotten.
>
>And they say it was only ever intended as a vote sweetening announcement for next month’s local elections.
>
>One ex-minister told the Sunday Mirror: “This nasty idea has served its purpose – which was to throw some red meat to former UKIP voters.
>
>“We know we’ll take a hammering at the polls over partygate. This was designed to limit the damage.”
>
>Another Tory MP said: “Priti will now be able to blame left-wing lawyers for scuppering this. I know there are those in the Home Office who think that was the plan all along.”
>
>Shadow Home Secretary Yvette Cooper added: “This just shows how cynical the Tories are.
>
>“Instead of a serious plan to tackle the criminal gangs, they are chasing headlines by announcing unworkable and incredibly costly policies.”
>
>[Article 🪞.](https://archive.ph/LS8Wb)
Damnit, I was hoping for an administrative cock-up, and a free ticket out.
I guess I’ll need to buy my own ticket to Rwanda instead.
Hopefully this signals the end for the Nazi in nylons, having a major policy quietly ditched by a “spokesman” isn’t exactly a vote of confidence
Of all the ridiculous pile of shit schemes this one takes the biscuit, we pay these jokers to come up with this shite🤦♂️
He never cared. It was never going to happen. It’s no different to the bridge to Ireland or British spaceports. He just wanted a distraction from 1001 other scandals. Now he has it.
Just on its face, this was the dumbest idea I ever heard of. If England has a little race problem, own up to it, learn from it, and get over being it… do the right thing… it is literally not that hard to do the right thing for bloody once.
8 comments
>Boris Johnson has abandoned his aim to send the first asylum-seekers to Rwanda this month, in the first sign of the controversial deportation plan hitting trouble.
>
>When the “one way ticket” agreement was signed last month, No 10 said it expected the first flights to the central African state to take off within “weeks” and before the end of May.
>
>But Mr Johnson’s spokesman said it would be a “matter of months” before any would-be refugees crossing the Channel are deported – potentially after the peak summer season for crossings.
>
>Asked why the timetable is “slipping”, the spokesperson pointed to legal challenges against the policy – while also insisting court action would not put it “on hold”.
>
>Experts had poured scorn on Mr Johnson’s claim that the scheme could start almost immediately, some doubting whether any migrants and refugees will ever be sent to Rwanda.
[…]
>The prime minister has argued legal powers already exist to allow asylum-seekers to be sent to Rwanda, but critics argue it breaches both the European Convention on Human Rights and the Geneva Convention.
–
–
>After an 11-day pause amid bad weather, around 550 people have crossed from France in small boats in the last two days, scotching claims by some Tory MPs that the Rwanda threat is already acting as a deterrent.
–
>Although it was initially briefed that only single men would be flown out, the home secretary Priti Patel has since admitted that women and children could also be sent.
>She has also refused to reveal the likely colossal cost of the policy, beyond an initial £120m to be handed to Rwanda under the “partnership” deal.
>The plan has also embroiled the prime minister in a damaging row with the Church of England, after the Archbishop of Canterbury attacked it as anti-Christian.
>The Home Office’s top civil servant warned Ms Patel that there is no evidence to back up the claim that deporting refugees to Rwanda will curb trafficking across the Channel.
>([Article 🪞](https://archive.ph/WTrOs))
Little reminder:
>23 Apr 2022: [*Priti Patel ‘was banking on’ never having to implement cruel Rwanda asylum plan*](https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/politics/priti-patel-was-banking-on-26781252)
>
>Senior Tories claim the Home Secretary hoped it would become so bogged down in legal challenges she would never have to get it off the ground and it would be quietly forgotten
>
>-
>
>Senior Tories say Priti Patel was always banking on never having to implement her cruel plan to send asylum seekers to Rwanda.
>
>They claim the Home Secretary hoped it would become so bogged down in legal challenges she would never have to get it off the ground and it would be quietly forgotten.
>
>And they say it was only ever intended as a vote sweetening announcement for next month’s local elections.
>
>One ex-minister told the Sunday Mirror: “This nasty idea has served its purpose – which was to throw some red meat to former UKIP voters.
>
>“We know we’ll take a hammering at the polls over partygate. This was designed to limit the damage.”
>
>Another Tory MP said: “Priti will now be able to blame left-wing lawyers for scuppering this. I know there are those in the Home Office who think that was the plan all along.”
>
>Shadow Home Secretary Yvette Cooper added: “This just shows how cynical the Tories are.
>
>“Instead of a serious plan to tackle the criminal gangs, they are chasing headlines by announcing unworkable and incredibly costly policies.”
>
>[Article 🪞.](https://archive.ph/LS8Wb)
Damnit, I was hoping for an administrative cock-up, and a free ticket out.
I guess I’ll need to buy my own ticket to Rwanda instead.
Hopefully this signals the end for the Nazi in nylons, having a major policy quietly ditched by a “spokesman” isn’t exactly a vote of confidence
Of all the ridiculous pile of shit schemes this one takes the biscuit, we pay these jokers to come up with this shite🤦♂️
He never cared. It was never going to happen. It’s no different to the bridge to Ireland or British spaceports. He just wanted a distraction from 1001 other scandals. Now he has it.
Just on its face, this was the dumbest idea I ever heard of. If England has a little race problem, own up to it, learn from it, and get over being it… do the right thing… it is literally not that hard to do the right thing for bloody once.
Operation distraction worked well then