{"id":27047,"date":"2023-12-08T10:48:57","date_gmt":"2023-12-08T10:48:57","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/cahootie.com\/?p=27047"},"modified":"2023-12-08T10:48:57","modified_gmt":"2023-12-08T10:48:57","slug":"sunak-pays-rwanda-extra-100m-for-asylum-deal-which-hasnt-got-off-the-ground","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/cahootie.com\/politics\/sunak-pays-rwanda-extra-100m-for-asylum-deal-which-hasnt-got-off-the-ground\/","title":{"rendered":"Sunak pays Rwanda extra \u00a3100m for asylum deal which hasnt got off the ground"},"content":{"rendered":"

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Rishi Sunak’s flagship Stop the Boats policy to send asylum seekers to Rwanda has swallowed up another \u00a3100 million despite not a single flight getting off the ground. Mr Sunak is facing fresh pressure over the beleaguered plan after it emerged the cost of the unused scheme has already reached \u00a3240 million.<\/p>\n

The Government spent a further \u00a3100 million in the 2023-24 financial year while flights remained grounded amid a series of legal setbacks, on top of the \u00a3140 million previously paid out. And Sir Matthew Rycroft, a senior civil servant in the Home Office, said another payment of \u00a350m was expected to be thrown at the scheme in 2024.<\/p>\n

In a letter published on Thursday to Dame Diana Johnson, chairwoman of the Home Affairs Committee, and Dame Meg Hillier, chairwoman of the Public Accounts Committee, Sir Matthew Rycroft wrote: “Ministers have agreed that I can disclose now the payments so far in the 2023-24 financial year.<\/p>\n

“There has been one payment of \u00a3100 million, paid in April this year as part of the Economic Transformation and Integration Fund mentioned above.<\/p>\n

“The UK Government has not paid any more to the Government of Rwanda thus far. This was entirely separate to the Treaty – The Government of Rwanda did not ask for any payment in order for a Treaty to be signed, nor was any offered.”<\/p>\n

READ MORE… <\/strong> David Cameron denies ‘interfering’ with US politics with Washington DC visit<\/strong><\/p>\n

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Yesterday the Prime Minister delivered a pandemic-like update from behind a lectern in Downing Street following the resignation of immigration minister Robert Jenrick over the new Rwanda proposals.<\/p>\n

A new Bill introduced by the government seeks to compel judges to treat Rwanda as a safe country after the Supreme Court ruled the scheme was unlawful over risks to refugees.<\/p>\n

Mr Sunak, who had just returned from the COP28 climate meeting in Dubai, said the new Bill “blocks every single reason that has ever been used” to prevent flights to Rwanda.<\/p>\n

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