Writing a joint article in the Times with Rwandan Foreign Minister Vincent Biruta, Ms. Patel described her controversial plans as “bold and innovative.” Under the new system, approved refugees will have to stay in Rwanda instead of returning to the United Kingdom, and those rejected by the Rwandan government will be deported. It will be mostly for adults, but families could be sent there together in exceptional cases. Image: Home Secretary Priti Patel and Rwandan Foreign Minister Vincent Biruta The idea has been criticized by many, including Canterbury Archbishop Justin Welby, who said he was “disrespectful”. The Archbishop of York, Stephen Cottrell, used his Easter sermon to call it “depressing and painful.” Speaking on Easter Sunday, Mr Welby expressed concern about the idea, saying there were “serious ethical questions about sending asylum seekers abroad”.
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His thoughts were echoed by Mr Cottrell, who said the UK “can do better than that” and that the country must “fight” people who are exploiting asylum seekers. Image: Canterbury Archbishop Justin Welby speaks on Easter Sunday Read more: Why are migrants being sent to Rwanda and how will it work? First look at the center that will house the immigrants of the Channel In the joint article, Ms Patel and Mr Biruta said it was “a surprise that institutions criticizing the plans are failing to offer their own solutions” to tackling small boat crossings in the English Channel. They continued to defend the plan, saying: “It will disrupt the business model of organized crime gangs and prevent migrants from putting their lives in danger.” The policy is unlikely to achieve the government’s goals, says the Tories MP Conservative lawmakers have widely supported the plans, but have been criticized by Labor politicians, human rights groups and the United Nations. Some Tory lawmakers have suggested on Twitter that religious leaders should stay out of politics, saying the two archbishops had gone too far. Cabinet Secretary Jacob Rees-Mogg said the Archbishop of Canterbury had misunderstood the policy objectives and that the government was “taking on a very difficult responsibility”. Use the Chrome browser for a more accessible video player 0:59 Immigrant accommodation in Rwanda However, former Secretary of State Andrew Mitchell, who serves as Sutton Coldfield MP, said that while he had “huge sympathy” for the government, the policy was unlikely to achieve its goals. “What I’m worried about with Rwandan policy is that it will not get what it wants, it is also very likely to be very expensive and we have to be very careful about taxpayers’ money right now,” he said. Mr Mitchell added that the “danger” was that the United Kingdom would no longer be a “beacon in a terrible and difficult world” for those fleeing persecution to rely on to save them. The first migrants are expected to be shipped to Rwanda on a chartered flight in May, but could be delayed as the government expects legal challenges to the partnership.
