Shadow Home Secretary Chris Philp said the party intends to bring back the plan during a recent interview with GB News, where he responded to questions about the scheme's effectiveness.
Asked how many migrants had been sent to Rwanda while Conservatives were last in government, Philp noted that none were removed due to a protracted legal battle that delayed the process, except for four who moved voluntarily.
Philp added that preparations were completed and the government was ready to begin removals in July 2024. However, the plan was halted two weeks before its scheduled launch by Keir Starmer and the Labour Party.
"And the reason no one ended up going to Rwanda is that the scheme was cancelled by Keir Starmer and Labour, two weeks before it was due to start."
The next UK general election is scheduled for 2029, and Philp indicated that if the Conservatives return to power, the Rwanda migration scheme could be reinstated.
"We're definitely going to bring that back," he added.
The UK's Labour government formally scrapped the plan last year to remove migrants who enter the UK illegally for further processing, citing legal and ethical concerns. Since then, it has faced mounting pressure for not offering a credible alternative to manage irregular migration.
Prime Minister Keir Starmer's administration remains under scrutiny domestically for the absence of a replacement policy.
Meanwhile, the European Union is reportedly warming up to a similar scheme, and the United States has also signed an agreement with Rwanda to address its own migration challenges.
A first group of seven migrants from the US arrived in Rwanda in mid-August under a bilateral agreement to resettle up to 250 migrants. The Rwandan government has stated that all individuals will receive support, including accommodation, healthcare, and workforce training, to help them integrate into Rwandan society or potentially relocate to other countries.
On August 6, U.S. Border Chief Tom Homan defended the agreement while openly criticising Britain's failure to follow through on its own arrangement with Rwanda.
"They're not the United States of America. They don't have President Trump running the show," Homan said, blaming what he described as weak leadership in London for the UK plan's collapse.
Wycliffe Nyamasege
Source : https://en.igihe.com/news/article/conservatives-signal-intent-to-revive-uk-rwanda-migration-scheme
