Shadow home secretary Yvette Cooper has declared that a Labour government would not send a single asylum seeker to Rwanda. The Safety of Rwanda (Asylum and Immigration Bill), which would have authorized the transfer of asylum seekers to Rwanda, was approved by Parliament on April 23 after the House of Lords withdrew its objections. Prime Minister Boris Johnson has expressed hope that the Rwanda scheme will dissuade migrants from attempting to cross the English Channel.
During an interview with Sky News, Ms. Cooper denounced the legislation as ‘an extortionately expensive gimmick’ rather than ‘a serious plan to tackle dangerous boat crossings.’ When asked by presenter Kay Burley if no one would be sent to Rwanda under a Labour government, Ms. Cooper responded, ‘No, that’s not our plan.’
The shadow home secretary maintained that the Rwanda scheme was ‘completely impractical’ and ‘unworkable’ and that it would do nothing to address the underlying causes of migration. She emphasized that a Labour government would prioritize safe and legal routes for asylum seekers.
