UK’s new Rwanda bill will not fly, says former minister Braverman

Former British interior minister Suella Braverman stated on Thursday that the government’s proposed Rwanda legislation, which is part of a scheme to relocate thousands of asylum seekers to the East African country, will fail.

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak is facing backlash from his Conservative Party’s right wing over efforts to expel migrants to Rwanda.

This also follows the resignation of immigration minister Robert Jenrick on Wednesday after the prime minister unveiled new draft laws to push the controversial legislation.

The new measure would urge judges to disregard certain portions of the Human Rights Act (HRA) and parts of domestic or international law that would declare Rwanda unfit to receive asylum seekers, while appeals based on specific circumstances would be permitted.

Braverman, Jenrick and their allies say that does not go far enough, with some wanting Britain to leave the European Convention on Human Rights altogether.

“I’m very concerned that the bill on the table will allow a merry-go-round of legal claims and litigation,” Reuters quoted Braverman saying on BBC Radio.

“The reality is, and the solid truth is, that it won’t work and it will not stop the boats.”

The government says the Rwanda scheme would deter migrants from paying people smugglers to ferry them from Europe across the Channel to Britain.

The UK government has been forced to come up with a two-pronged strategy to relaunch the Rwanda policy after the Supreme Court ruled it would violate international human rights laws enshrined in domestic legislation.

A new agreement has been signed with the East African country to pave the way for the Rwanda policy to fly again.