The UK government is trying to suppress the Channel crossing with small boats and as part of the plans, the Home Office has signed a “first world” agreement with Rwanda to send migrants to the closed African country. The Interior Ministry said on Thursday that the first people to be sent to Rwanda would be officially notified in the coming weeks, with the first flights taking place in the coming months. Read more: First look at the center that will house the Channel immigrants Use the Chrome browser for a more accessible video player 2:44 A look at Rwanda’s exploitation centers However, Andrew Griffith, director of the Number 10 policy unit, said it could work in “weeks”. “It does not require new legislation, we believe we can do this under existing conventions,” he told Newsnight. “Therefore, it should be possible to implement and operate in weeks or a small number of months. We are ready to move forward in that sense.”
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According to the Times, the prime minister wants the first flight to depart next month, with thousands of people moving in the coming years. A “distraction” of 120 million pounds Welsh Minister Simon Hart told Sky News that the deal would initially cost the UK around 120 120 million. Priti Patel spoke at a news conference in Kigali on Thursday, confirming that the United Kingdom and Rwanda had signed a new partnership on migration and economic development to “put an end to this deadly smuggling of people”. He said the UK was making a “substantial investment” in Rwanda’s development through the move, which would improve the lives of those in the country. “This is a global issue, with many countries struggling to meet the challenges and causes, and there is no single or simple solution,” he said. He added that Rwanda “is a safe and secure country with respect for the rule of law and clearly a number of institutions that have evolved over time”. The deal has been widely criticized, with Labor leader Sir Keir Starmer describing it as a “passionate distraction” from the partygate and the Tory Reform Team calling it “wrong and irresponsible”. Read more: Why are migrants being sent to Rwanda and how will it work? Use the Chrome browser for a more accessible video player 3:00 p.m. defends Rwanda’s plan The prime minister defended the co-operation, saying: “This is morally correct and humane and compassionate. “We can not have people continue to die at sea, paying huge sums to bad trackers who are just exploiting their hopes and aspirations. “We must encourage them to follow the safe and legal path if they want to come to this country.” View from Rwanda There has also been criticism of the agreement in Rwanda, with the nation’s opposition leader arguing that her country should not face British immigration. Victoire Ingabire told Sky News: “If our people do not have enough to eat, if our children or the children of Rwanda do not have the opportunity to go to school because of poverty, how will the Rwandan government provide education for its children? refugees;” However, some Rwandans who spoke to Sky News appeared to support the plan. “They may call them immigrants or whatever, but they are just people,” Eric told Shingi Mararike in Kigali. “We are all a human race.” Use the Chrome browser for a more accessible video player 7:43 What does Rwanda think about the plan? Rwanda’s human rights record is disputed Human rights groups have condemned the move as inhumane, while others have said it is inapplicable and a waste of money. According to Freedom House, a US government-funded non-profit organization, Rwanda has a poor history of civil rights and civil liberties. The agency’s 2022 report on Rwanda states that “children are being targeted internally for domestic service in abusive conditions”, with many working “informally in the agricultural sector”. “Young refugees from the Congo and Burundi are vulnerable to sexual exploitation and forced recruitment into armed groups linked to Rwandan security forces,” he added. Mr Johnson acknowledged that there would be legal challenges, but promised to take on “political lawyers” to prevent the courts from being cut off.
