Home Secretary James Cleverly arrives in Rwanda to sign new asylum treaty

Published

1 year ago

December 5, 2023

admin

James Cleverly has arrived in Rwanda to sign a new treaty for the government’s asylum plan.

It is part of Rishi Sunak’s mission to make the deal to send migrants who arrive in the UK by irregular means to Rwanda legally watertight following the Supreme Court’s ruling against the scheme.

In the wake of the judgement on 15 November, the government insisted it had been working on contingency measures and promised a treaty with Rwanda within days, along with emergency legislation in parliament.

Politics news – latest: Sunak suffers first Commons defeat

Mr Cleverly said Rwanda “cares deeply about the rights of refugees” and he looks forward to meeting counterparts and signing the deal.

The home secretary said: “We are clear that Rwanda is a safe country, and we are working at pace to move forward with this partnership to stop the boats and save lives.

“The Supreme Court recognised that changes may be delivered in future to address the conclusions they reached – and that is what we have set out to do together, with this new, internationally recognised treaty agreement.

“Rwanda cares deeply about the rights of refugees, and I look forward to meeting with counterparts to sign this agreement and further discuss how we work together to tackle the global challenge of illegal migration.”

There has been speculation Rwanda is pushing to get more money on top of the £140m already committed to the scheme.

The Sunday Times reported Kigali will be given a £15m top-up payment to agree fresh terms on its agreement with the UK.

Mr Sunak met Rwanda’s President Paul Kagame on the sidelines of the COP28 climate talks in Dubai on Friday but declined afterwards to say how much more money he would spend to make the scheme a success.

Downing Street insisted there had been no demand for extra money from Rwanda, with the prime minister’s official spokesman saying: “Certainly I don’t recognise that figure of £15m, there’s been no request for additional funding for the treaty made by Rwanda, or not offered by the UK government.”

There had also been reports that British lawyers could be stationed in Rwandan courts in a bid to address concerns by the Supreme Court, which found in its ruling there would be a “real risk” of people being returned home regardless of whether their asylum claims were justified or not, in a breach of international law.

But Rwandan government spokesperson Yolande Makolo said the idea was “completely off the table”.

“We have non-removal clauses providing that no relocated individual shall be removed from Rwanda,” she said.

Labour’s Yvette Cooper accused the government of “going round in circles” on the Rwanda scheme, saying Mr Cleverly was the third home secretary to visit the country in support of the deportation scheme, which she branded “simply a gimmick”.

She said: “We want to stop dangerous boat crossings, they are undermining border security and putting lives at risk.

“What that means is we’ve got to have action to go after the criminal gangs who are making huge sums as a result of these dangerous boat crossings.

“Instead… it’s a bit like Groundhog Day – you’ve got the third home secretary in less than two years off to Rwanda with another chequebook.”

Mr Cleverly’s visit comes after he laid out his five-point plan to cut legal immigration in the Commons yesterday, including a ban on care workers bringing their families over to the UK and raising the minimum salary required for a skilled worker visa to £38,700 from next spring.

Tory backbenchers remain unconvinced by government promises

Mhari Aurora

Political correspondent

@MhariAurora

The Rwanda scheme is making progress – or at least that’s what the government would like you to think.

Today, Home Secretary James Cleverly arrived in Kigali to sign the long-awaited treaty with the Rwandan government.

But don’t be fooled, the government isn’t out of the woods yet.

With emergency legislation expected to be introduced to Parliament on Thursday, frustrated backbenchers from the right of the Conservative Party are still sceptical about how robust the legislation will be in reality.

Although the government likes to talk tough on immigration, right-wing MPs remain unconvinced by the Home Office’s promises.

One Tory MP tells me colleagues are annoyed that the five-point plan announced yesterday in the hopes of curbing levels of legal migration was not announced sooner to see the impact ahead of a general election.

Having previously said the government’s flagship Rwanda policy is in fact not the be-all and end-all, Mr Cleverly will be speaking at a press conference later, where he is expected to promote the success of this next step in the government’s partnership with the country.

But there’s just one thing.

Back home in Westminster, his understudy – Robert Jenrick – has been going off-script.

In an interview with Sky News’s deputy political editor Sam Coates yesterday, the home secretary did not deny that the government had abandoned its 2019 manifesto commitment to get net migration below 250,000 before the next election.

However, on Sky News Breakfast with Kay Burley today, Mr Jenrick – speaking for the government – said he was committed to that manifesto pledge.

So which one is it?

Click to subscribe to Politics at Jack and Sam’s wherever you get your podcasts

Speaking to Sky News this morning, immigration minister Robert Jenrick said he believed the government would meet its manifesto commitment of getting net migration below 250,000 before the next election – despite the current figure standing at a record-breaking 745,000 in 2022.

Put to him that even with the new measures announced yesterday, the government would still fall short of its target of 229,000, Mr Jenrick said reducing net migration “matters a great deal to me and to the government – and so if we need to do more, we will”.

Mr Jenrick, who has taken a hardline stance on migration issues, also told Sky News he was confident that flights to Rwanda would take off before the next election, which stands in contrast to colleagues – including the chancellor, who said there was “no guarantee” deportation flights to Rwanda will take off next year.

UK

‘He got away with murder’: Families of Nottingham attack victims react to review into killer

Published

8 hours ago

February 5, 2025

admin

'He got away with murder': Families of Nottingham attack victims react to review into killer

The families of the Nottingham victims have said the attacker “got away with murder” after an independent review found failings involved in his prior NHS care.

Valdo Calocane was allowed to avoid taking long-lasting antipsychotic medication because he did not like needles, the review found.

He also punched a police officer in the face and held his flatmates “hostage”.

Calocane, who had been diagnosed with paranoid schizophrenia, was sentenced to an indefinite hospital order after killing 19-year-old students Barnaby Webber and Grace O’Malley-Kumar, and 65-year-old caretaker Ian Coates, before attempting to kill three other people in June 2023.

Prosecutors accepted a plea of manslaughter after experts agreed his schizophrenia meant he wasn’t fully responsible for his actions.

Solicitor Neil Hudgell, acting on behalf of the families of the victims, said they will meet the government next week to discuss a statutory public inquiry.

‘Make this trauma stop’

Emma Webber, mother of Barnaby, said at a press conference held by the families, that evidence of failures in dealing with her son’s killer would have been “brushed under the carpet” had it not been for campaigning by the victims’ families and that Calcone “got away with murder”.

“None of us should be here today. Anything and everything that could go wrong did,” she said.

“Barnaby, Ian and Grace would be here today if those concerned across these agencies had just done their job properly.”

Mrs Webber said the indefinite hospital order handed to Calocane represented an “enormous miscarriage of justice”.

“He knew what he was doing,” she said. “He serves no punishment for his crimes.”

She added it was “unfathomable” that the families have had to fight for lessons to be learned: “To the prime minister, and the rest of the government, make this trauma stop and make our fight stop.

“You have confirmed there will be a public inquiry, but agree the terms that we’ve been pleading for, make it statutory so all of the agencies, organisations, institutions and, vitally, individuals must… and will be compelled to attend, give evidence and tell the truth.”

Mrs Webber wants a meeting with Keir Starmer: “I do think it’s time now that we get the opportunity to meet with the prime minister,” she said.

‘This is a watershed moment’

The father of Grace, Dr Sanjoy Kumar, said he will be asking the health secretary to order a mental health trust to hold individual doctors responsible for the failures in his daughter’s killer’s care.

Dr Kumar added: “He (Calocane) was sectioned four times. Four times. The psychiatrist failed to change his treatment four times.

“They failed to put provisions in the community to make sure he took his medication, ultimately irresponsibly discharging him into the community to do harm.

“For the loss of our beautiful, brave daughter, Grace, there must be change. This is a watershed moment.

“We demand a public inquiry with statutory powers, powers to compel witnesses to appear to account for their failures.

“We demand accountability and we will not stop until we get justice for the Nottingham attacks.

“A system is made out of individuals – if individuals are not held to account, systems will not change in our country.”

‘Accountability is essential’

Grace’s mother, Dr Sinead O’Malley-Kumar, said there had been poor decision-making and “laziness” among health staff who treated her daughter’s killer.

“If any of them knew that Valdo Calocane was going to go out and share student accommodation with their children, I suspect their choices may have changed,” she said.

“Accountability on an individual level is essential.”

‘The city is a failure’

James Coates, the son of Ian Coates, claimed the people of Nottingham are not safe and he had lost his faith in the local mental health services.

He said: “I want to be proud but I can’t. The city, as a whole, is a failure.”

Talking about the city’s NHS services, he said: “If they take shortcuts, it puts people’s lives at risk.”

This breaking news story is being updated and more details will be published shortly.

Please refresh the page for the fullest version.

You can receive breaking news alerts on a smartphone or tablet via the Sky News app. You can also follow us on WhatsApp and subscribe to our YouTube channel to keep up with the latest news.

UK

Kay Burley retires from Sky News after 36 years

Published

9 hours ago

February 5, 2025

admin

Kay Burley retires from Sky News after 36 years

Kay Burley has announced she is retiring from Sky News after 36 years at the broadcaster.

Closing her final show on the Sky News Breakfast programme, Burley said: “From a standing start to one of the most recognised and valued brands in global news, it’s been an honour and privilege to work with some of the best and hardest working teams in the business.

“News by its very nature is often devastating and together we’ve covered so many life-changing events – from the tragic death of Diana, the shocking terror attack of 9/11; the Asian Tsunami; the Concorde air disaster.

“But we’ve also enjoyed some wonderful high notes too, haven’t we – the thrill of London winning the chance to host the 2012 Olympics; a plethora of royal weddings; jubilees and who can forget days and days and DAYS waiting for royal babies to arrive at the Lindo Wing.

“But after over a million minutes of live TV news – more than anyone else in the world – its time for me to indulge in some of my other passions – including my love for travel.

“So, after covering 12 separate general elections – including Sir Keir Starmer’s victory last year – I am retiring from Sky News – let politicians of every party just rejoice at that news!

“Thank you for waking up and tuning in every morning. I can’t tell you how much I have appreciated your support over the last three and a half decades: You’re awesome.

“I will post more on my social media and hope to see you around. Please keep in touch.”

Burley was part of the team which launched Sky News in 1989.

She has covered major stories including the death of Diana, Princess of Wales. Her live coverage of 9/11 won Sky News a BAFTA award.

David Rhodes, executive chairman of Sky News, said: “With millions of minutes presenting live rolling news, Kay’s legacy in television journalism is unmatched, as is her commitment to Sky’s legacy. And I’m sure some MPs in Westminster will sleep easy knowing they won’t face her indomitable questioning in the mornings.”

He added: “We thank Kay for her huge contribution to Sky, to the art of the interview and to British journalism. And we wish her the best of luck.”

Former Sky News editor-at-large Adam Boulton posted on X: “The one and only Kay Burley announces she is leaving Sky News.

“Kay is unique, there are no other women of her background who have had such an impact on British News and current affairs. We have been friends and colleagues for forty years. Onward Kay I know it’s going to be exciting!”

Sky News’s political editor Beth Rigby said: “No one does live telly like Kay Burley. Our anchor woman for decades, Kay’s has been THE face of Sky News for as long as I can remember.”

Rigby added: “She’s been a trailblazer & inspiration to a whole generation of women. You’re one of a kind.”

Former Sky News journalist Simon McCoy shared an image on X from when he worked with Burley and wrote: “That’s how long she worked at Sky News!

“Wishing Kay Burley all the best for whatever comes next.”

Sky News business presenter Ian King posted on X: “It is impossible to overstate the achievements of my brilliant and supportive friend @KayBurley.

“No one in the world has clocked up as many hours of live television. No doubt politicians will be glad she is leaving – her loyal viewers will not.”

Good Morning Britain presenter Susanna Reid called Burley “a fierce advocate for viewers, a powerful interviewer and a supporter of women in television”.

Reid wrote on X: “That she gets her own #BreakingNews announcement is testament to @KayBurley impact on news journalism. A fierce advocate for viewers, a powerful interviewer and a supporter of women in television.

“She is going to be hugely missed from our screens. Good luck Kay.”

Former BBC Newsnight producer Sam McAlister said she was “devastated” by the “absolute icon” retiring from Sky News.

McAlister wrote on X: “Genuinely devastated to hear about @KayBurley leaving @SkyNews.

“An absolute icon. Smart as hell, sharp as they come, bloody amazing company.

“Always a total inspiration to me as a single parent and woman from a different background.

“A sad day.”

UK

Boy, 15, charged with murder after teenager stabbed at Sheffield school

Published

9 hours ago

February 5, 2025

admin

Boy, 15, charged with murder after teenager stabbed at Sheffield school

A 15-year-old boy has been charged with murder after a teenager was stabbed to death at a school in Sheffield.

Harvey Willgoose, 15, died after being attacked at All Saints Catholic High School on Monday.

Police said he suffered “serious injuries” and despite the efforts of medics, died a short time after emergency services arrived.

Chris Hartley, deputy chief crown prosecutor for the Crown Prosecution Service Yorkshire and Humberside, said: “We have authorised South Yorkshire Police to charge a 15-year-old with murder in relation to the death of Harvey Willgoose, 15, at All Saints Catholic High School on 3 February.

“He has also been charged with possession of a bladed article and one count of affray.”

The boy will appear at Sheffield Youth Court later on Wednesday.

In a statement released by police, Harvey’s family said their lives would “never be the same again” and they were “utterly heartbroken”.

“We have lost a beloved son, brother, grandson, cousin, nephew and most importantly, a best friend to all,” they said.

“Harvey will be forever known for being a caring, loving and funny young man. At this difficult time we ask you to please respect our privacy as we grieve as a family.”

Paying tribute, Harvey’s sister Sophie Willgoose said: “My heart is broken into a million pieces.”

She posted on Facebook: “I love you so much Harvey… Hug your loved ones a little tighter tonight cos I wish I could.”

All Saints Catholic High School described Harvey as an “immensely popular” student who had “a smile that would light up the room”.

“We are all struggling to process what has happened and our thoughts and prayers are with Harvey’s family and friends at this incredibly difficult time,” it said.