Sunak ‘considered scrapping Rwanda scheme during leadership bid’
According to No10 documents Mr Sunak was described as believing the ‘deterrent won’t work’
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.Rishi Sunak has not denied that he discussed scrapping the Rwanda scheme during his Tory leadership campaign in the summer of 2022.
The Prime Minister stressed the importance of the Rwanda deportation policy, following reports he had doubts about it while chancellor and during his leadership bid.
Mr Sunak has made the scheme central to his premiership since entering Downing Street.
But The Sun suggested he considered campaigning on a promise to ditch the scheme during his unsuccessful bid for the premiership against Liz Truss. He was eventually warned off the idea on the grounds it would upset Conservative MPs.
In a carefully-worded answer to a question about the report at a PM Connect event in north-west England on Monday, Mr Sunak insisted he never said he was going to axe the Rwanda policy, but did not deny considering it.
He told the audience in Accrington: “I didn’t say I was going to scrap it. I mean that’s completely false. Of course I didn’t.”
Mr Sunak said it was his job as chancellor “to ask some probing questions” and scrutinise money spent on taxpayers’ behalf.
But ultimately he backed the policy “because I believe in this scheme”, the Tory leader said, stressing the need for a “deterrent” for illegal immigration.
Yvette Cooper slammed the prime minister for leaving taxpayers paying the “extortionate” price of the scheme, despite having wanted to cancel it.
“This is more evidence of the total Tory chaos over their failing Rwanda scheme and the weakness of Rishi Sunak,” she said.
The shadow home secretary added: “The idea that Rishi Sunak could doubt the policy when Chancellor, plan to cancel it in his leadership campaign, and then end up belatedly championing it once it failed and will cost the taxpayer £400 million shows how incredibly weak and hopeless he is, and how far he is just chasing gimmicks to pander to parts of the Tory party and keep his job.
“Shamefully, he is still making the taxpayer pay the extortionate price.”
It came after Mr Sunak on Sunday admitted questioning the “value for money” of the policy while he was chancellor, but insisted it was “wrong” to infer that he did not back sending asylum seekers to the east African country.
According to No 10 papers seen by the BBC, Mr Sunak was described as believing the “deterrent won’t work”.
The Rwanda policy is seen as key to Mr Sunak’s pledge to “stop the boats” ahead of the next election, which the Prime Minister has signalled is likely to be held in the second half of 2024.
The stalled scheme comes with a £290 million bill but no asylum seekers have been relocated as yet after the Supreme Court ruled the proposal unlawful.
The Safety of Rwanda Bill, a piece of legislation Mr Sunak hopes will prevent further legal challenges to the policy, is due to return to the Commons this month for debate.
But critics on the right of his party have threatened to amend or even vote down the legislation if it is not tightened before it is next put before MPs.
Mr Sunak on Monday said he would welcome “bright ideas” on how to improve the Bill, while insisting “my entire party is supportive” of the legislation.
“If people have bright ideas about how we can make this more effective whilst complying with our international obligations and retaining Rwanda’s participation in the scheme… then of course, I’m open to having those discussions,” he added.