The UK government is bracing for a slew of legal challenges after the passing of the Rwanda bill by Parliament, according to Michael Tomlinson, the illegal migration minister. The bill, which allows for some asylum seekers to be sent to Rwanda, was approved on Monday night. However, Tomlinson conceded that illegal Channel crossings were unlikely to cease until regular flights to Rwanda become operational. He stated that Parliament passing the bill was a key aspect of the government’s “moral mission” to tackle small boat crossings.
Tomlinson’s comments come amid reports that five people died on Tuesday whilst attempting to cross the Channel. So far this year, over 6,000 migrants and refugees have made the journey, representing a rise of approximately 25% from last year. Speaking on BBC Breakfast, Tomlinson noted that the bill had yet to be enforced, which meant that it was not deterring migrants.
Rishi Sunak, the UK Chancellor of the Exchequer, previously stated that the first flights under the scheme are scheduled to start in 10 to 12 weeks, but warned that there could still be legal challenges in the courts that hold up the initiative. Shadow home secretary Yvette Cooper of the Labour Party predicted that the Rwanda bill is unlikely to achieve its objectives and is an “expensive gimmick.”
Human rights groups and charities have also criticised the scheme, citing that it represents a breach of international law. The Council of Europe, which houses the European Court of Human Rights, criticised the bill for raising “major issues about the human rights of asylum seekers and the rule of law more generally” and called for its removal.
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