Robert Jenrick threatens to amend Sunak’s Rwanda bill unless it is strengthened
Former Immigration Minister Robert Jenrick has warned that he will suggested changes to the Prime Minister’s Rwanda bill to ensure it is “sufficiently robust”.
In December Rishi Sunak’s Safety of Rwanda legislation, which aims to stop small boat crossings, passed its second reading with a healthy majority of 44 votes during its first House of Commons test last month.
It is due to return to the Commons this month as Rishi Sunak looks to overcome legal hurdles to his flagship immigration policy.
Mr Jenrick resigned just hours after it was published after arguing that he did not think the new legislation was strong enough to prevent legal challenges.
The Newark MP said he plans to “lay amendments to the Bill next week” if Mr Sunak has not strengthened it since it was last scutinised – meaning MPs will have to vote on whether they are incoporated into it.
Mr Jenrick told Sky News he will make the move because he doesn’t “think that the bill that is going through Parliament is sufficient,” adding: “If we say we are going to do whatever it takes [to stop the boats], we have to do whatever it takes and that means strengthening that Bill.
“I hope that he (Rishi Sunak) will strengthen the Bill that is coming through Parliament.
“And I have been very clear that if he doesn’t do that, then I will lay amendments to the Bill next week to make sure that it is the piece of legislation necessary, that it is sufficiently robust to do the job that the British public expect.”
If the policy is introduced, some people who came to the UK without a visa or other permission to enter the country, could be sent to Rwanda to have their asylum claim processed and decided there.
The Conservative Party leader said he wants to have deportation flights taking migrants to the country by the spring.
Mr Jenrick and sacked home secretary Suella Braverman were among a tranche of high-profile Conservative MPs to abstain on last month’s vote on the draft bill.
Hardline right-wing Tory factions have threatening to vote down the bill next time if it is not tightened.
After resigning Mr Jenrick, once seen as a close ally of Mr Sunak, argued the draft law “will not succeed” in its current guise.
The bill compels judges to treat Rwanda as a safe country after the Supreme Court ruled the scheme was unlawful over risks to refugees.
The legislation, if approved by Parliament, gives ministers the powers to disregard sections of the Human Rights Act.
But it does not go as far as allowing the UK Government to dismiss the European Convention on Human Rights, as hardliners have demanded.
Downing Street this week refused to endorse comments made by Home Secretary James Cleverly, who replaced Mrs Braverman, after the Cabinet minister told LBC he wanted to see all migrant boat crossings stopped by the end of the year.
The Prime Minister’s official spokesman said he was “not going to set out a deadline” but repeated Mr Sunak’s commitment to wanting the first removals to take place by the spring.
Additional reporting by Press Association.
