More than 160 charities and campaign groups have called on the Government to scrap “shamefully cruel” plans to send asylum seekers who cross the English Channel in small boats to Rwanda. It comes as a Home office Minister was slammed on Good Morning Britain.
Boris Johnson has insisted his scheme to detain and fly migrants more than 4,000 miles to East Africa at the expense of the taxpayer is not “draconian and lacking in compassion”.
But Bond, the UK network of NGOs, and more than 160 other British organisations have condemned the plan, claiming it is “fundamentally out of step with widespread public support for refugees in the UK”.
In an open letter to the Prime Minister and Home Secretary Priti Patel, the signatories demanded that the Government scrap the scheme, cease plans to overhaul the Human Rights Act, and “instead create humane and effective solutions” for those seeking refuge in the UK.
“Sending people seeking asylum to Rwanda will cause immense suffering, with the most vulnerable people bearing the brunt,” they wrote.
“This is a shamefully cruel way to treat people who have come to the UK to seek protection, fleeing persecution or conflict.”
They said to send people seeking asylum to Rwanda would be “cruel and immoral”, criticising the country’s track record on human rights.
The organisations said that the Government’s plan would result in “more, not fewer, dangerous journeys – leaving more people at risk of being trafficked”.
They also warned the cost of the plan would be “astronomical”.
Live in Rwanda
With this in mind a furious Adil Ray demanded to know if Home office Minister Tom Pursglove would live in Rwanda. He asked: would you move your family to Rwanda?
He replied: “That’s not relevant”
Adil Ray: shot back: “Of course it’s relevant, if it’s not good enough for you, why is it good enough for a Syrian or Afghan refugee.”
He said he might visit the nation but the chances he would live there with his own family appear very slim.
Then his internet connection dropped out, which was very handy for him.
Watch
He didn’t do much better on the BBC either…
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Related:Furious responses as Patel brags about sending asylum seekers to Rwanda