“We’re sending people who try to seek a safe life here in the UK to Rwanda? Is that what we’re doing? Lower than low we are at the top!”
That was pundit Gary Neville’s reaction to the news that the Home Secretary Priti Patel is expected to announce plans to send migrants who cross the Channel to Rwanda.
The Government will, it is reported, justify its “New Plan for Immigration” by arguing the scale of the Channel crossings is unsustainable:
“Before Christmas 27 people drowned, and in the weeks ahead there may be many more losing their lives at sea, and whose bodies may never be recovered. Around 600 came across the Channel yesterday. In just a few weeks this could again reach a thousand a day.”
Boris Johnson is also expected to say that he accepted the migrants were seeking a better life but their dreams were being exploited by vile people smugglers.
“We cannot sustain a parallel illegal system. Our compassion may be infinite, but our capacity to help people is not. The British people voted several times to control our borders, not to close them, but to control them. So just as Brexit allowed us to take back control of legal immigration by replacing free movement with our points-based system, we are also taking back control of illegal immigration, with a long-term plan for asylum in this country.”
Shadow Home Secretary Yvette Cooper said:
“This Rwanda processing proposal is desperate and shameful… It is an unworkable, unethical and extortionate policy that would cost the UK taxpayer billions of pounds during a cost of living crisis.”
Greater Manchester MP Barbara Keeley tweeted
“To deflect from his lockdown parties @BorisJohnson wants to send desperate people in search of sanctuary to Rwanda, a country where refugees are detained and beaten,
It will cost £1.4 billion and inflict utter misery on vulnerable people.”
