Rishi Sunak doubted Rwanda scheme would stop boat crossings while chancellor, documents suggest
Rishi Sunak had doubts the government’s Rwanda asylum scheme would stop small boat crossings while he was chancellor, according to documents seen by Sky News.
The Number 10 papers, prepared in March 2022 shortly before the Rwanda plan was first announced, also suggest the prime minister wanted to scale back the plans.
A government source said Mr Sunak has put the Rwanda policy at the heart of his plan for government, and as chancellor, funded the scheme.
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PM avoids damaging Rwanda bill defeat
The documents state the “chancellor wants to pursue smaller volumes initially” of people being sent to Rwanda with “500 instead of 1.5k this year, and 3k instead of 5k, in years two or three”.
Briefing papers prepared for a meeting involving then prime minister Boris Johnson and Mr Sunak also suggest the then chancellor thought the “deterrent won’t work” and there would be more boat crossings in the summer.
A separate document from Downing Street summarising Mr Sunak’s position stated he was “refusing to fund any non-detained accommodation (eg Greek-style reception centres) because hotels are cheaper”.
The papers suggest Mr Sunak was instead in favour of increasing the “dispersal of people out of hotels into private sector accommodation” around the country.
One e-mail also shows Number 10 suggesting “Rishi may want to consider how his popularity might fare with the base” if he did not agree to the Rwanda plan and other policy changes.
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A government source said: “As chancellor, Rishi funded the Rwanda scheme and put it at the heart of his 10-point plan the month after becoming PM.
“Now he is passing the Rwanda Bill following the Supreme Court judgment to get flights off the ground.
“He is the first prime minister ever to oversee a reduction in small boat crossings, which were down by 36% last year.”
Sunak prepares to bring back legislation to allow Rwanda scheme to function
The revelations come as Mr Sunak prepares to bring back legislation to the Commons that Downing Street says will allow the Rwanda scheme to function.
Tory backbenchers have called for the prime minister to go further in the bill and disregard more sections of international law.
Read more:
What is the new Rwanda plan and why is it controversial?
Govt reveals cost of Rwanda asylum policy
The leaked documents are likely to add to the concerns of these MPs that Mr Sunak is not willing to do what it takes to put the policy into action.
Labour party chair Anneliese Dodds told Sky News the documents showed Mr Sunak was “aware of some of [the] problems” with the Rwanda policy but had done “nothing about them because of his focus on internal Conservative Party management”.
Leaks will not allay fears of Sunak ‘going soft’ on illegal boat crossings
This is difficult timing for Rishi Sunak.
The coming weeks will likely see the prime minister bring back legislation to the Commons he hopes will address legal concerns raised by the Supreme Court about the Rwanda scheme.
A full-blown rebellion on the bill was staved off last month, but many backbenchers want more and are hoping for compromises from Downing Street.
The revelation that when chancellor Mr Sunak apparently had doubts about the viability of the Rwanda scheme will only add to the concerns some MPs have about whether the prime minister is prepared to do what it takes – as they see it anyway – to get flights off the ground to Kigali.
It also follows reports the Home Secretary James Cleverly initially described the asylum plan in colourfully disparaging terms.
Remember, he is only in his job because Suella Braverman was sacked.
She was quickly followed out of the Home Office by the immigration minister Robert Jenrick.
Both want Rishi Sunak to go further and worry the government more broadly has gone soft on the issue.
Leaks like these will not help allay those fears.
UK
Constance Marten and partner guilty of concealing birth of child and perverting course of justice
A family has been left “incredibly distraught” after the death of a four-year-old boy in his garden in Ceredigion in west Wales.
Maldwyn “Gwern” Evans died at his home in Tynreithin, Tregaron, on 20 June.
His family described him as a “keen little farmer” who would be remembered for his “captivating personality”.
“As a family, we are incredibly distraught by our tragic loss, and he will be greatly missed by us and the entire community,” they said in a statement issued through Dyfed-Powys Police.
“He was a loving son and a caring brother, who touched the hearts of so many.
“He lived his short life to the fullest and will be remembered for his captivating personality.
“He was an extremely keen little farmer who had knowledge and ability beyond his years.”
They added: “We would like to thank everyone for their support and kindness at this horrific time.
“It has meant so much to the whole family.”
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Dyfed-Powys Police said in a previous statement: “The death is not being treated as suspicious and HM Coroner has been informed.
“Our thoughts are with the family who are receiving support and they have asked for privacy during this difficult time.”
Newly released footage shows the search for missing British teenager Jay Slater continues by both land and air.
The search for the 19-year-old from Lancashire, who is missing in Tenerife, has now entered its tenth day.
He has been missing since Monday 17 June.
The friends he was holidaying with last heard from him at around 8.30am that day.
He told them he planned to walk back to his accommodation after missing a bus – a journey of around 11 hours by foot.
The search currently centres on Masca, a mountainous area on the western tip of the island.
The village, which is home to around 90 inhabitants, lies at an altitude of 650m, and is where Mr Slater is believed to have been when he was last heard from.
Pic: Guardia Civil/X
Pic: Guardia Civil/X
Search continues
The footage from Spanish police comes after Mr Slater’s father said the family were being kept in the dark by some officers.
It shows a helicopter searching the mountainous area, with search teams on foot having been joined by sniffer dogs.
They then enter a wooded area and proceed to search the mountainous region.
In one clip, an officer uses binoculars to try and see if there are any signs of the missing teen.
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Jay Slater’s dad has said police have left him and his family in the dark over the hunt for the missing teen.
The 35-second montage of clips was posted on the X social media platform on the Guardia Civil account.
“We continue with the search for the young British man missing in Tenerife,” police said in the post on Tuesday night.
“Different Guardia Civil units from the area participate, joined by agents, with their dogs specialised in searching for people, from Madrid.”
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But The Times reports that the dogs have not been given a piece of Mr Slater’s clothing for them to pick up a scent.
Cadaver dogs have been trained to pick up the scent of human remains without the need for a specific prompt.
Read more:
Hiker rescued by police searching for Jay Slater
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Mayor Emilio Jose Navarro told the Reuters news agency that some locals have been interviewed by police.
That includes some who claim they saw Mr Slater watching Euro matches on the coast.
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