Home Secretary Suella Braverman has described critics of her Rwanda deportation policy as snobs.
Ms. Braverman said the plan was a ‘compassionate approach’ and re-settlement for many would be ‘a blessing.’
In an interview with GB News she told Mark White: “I think there has been far too much prejudice, frankly, snobbery amongst the critics – most of whom haven’t even visited Rwanda.”
“I think there has been far too much prejudice, frankly, snobbery amongst the critics – most of whom haven’t even visited Rwanda.”
The Home Secretary continued: “This is my third visit to Rwanda. This is a welcoming country. It’s a dynamic economy. They have a proud track record in supporting and resettling refugees in the region.
“I’ve just met several refugees from Eritrea, from Burundi, from the Democratic Republic of Congo, who found sanctuary here in Rwanda, and they have nothing but gratitude for Rwanda.
“So to all of those critics, who display a gross prejudice against Rwanda, I tell them to visit first and then judge.”
Asked if she is convinced that people can enjoy a good life in the country, she said: “Yes. What we’ve seen this weekend in Rwanda is that our partners here are ready, they’re ready to support the UK, in our work to stop the boats and to fix our challenge of illegal migration.
“We’ve seen accommodation and construction projects, which are well advanced and which will be completed very soon, that accommodation will in part be there to accommodate in the long term people who will be resettled to Rwanda, from the UK.
“The people who come here will be resettled to live a safe and secure life. That’s the human humane approach. And that’s the compassionate approach.”
“I think there has been a knee-jerk reaction and from the usual suspects, let’s be honest.
“The reality is very different to how the critics would portray Rwanda. Rwanda is dynamic, Rwanda is welcoming, Rwanda has a tradition of providing humanitarian support of a high quality.”
“I think there has been a knee-jerk reaction and from the usual suspects, let’s be honest.”
On criticisms about the UK abrogating its responsibility, Ms Braverman told GB News: “Coming to Rwanda, or being resettled to Rwanda, via the UK, if you’ve come to the UK illegally, will be a blessing.
“You will be provided with humanitarian support, it will be a humane provision for you. But I also say that ultimately we need to stop the people smuggling gangs, and that’s why Rwanda is important.
“The people smuggling gangs are exploiting 1,000s of people they are receiving, people are paying 1000s of pounds to take an illegal journey to take, sometimes a tragically fatal journey to break our laws and to undermine our rules in the vain hope that they might have a life in the United Kingdom.
“By working with our friends here in Rwanda. We break the business model upon which these gangs are operating.”
She added: “What I’m trying to show is that our approach in the United Kingdom to stopping the boats is both firm and robust.
“Our legal migration bill will make clear that if you arrive in the UK illegally you will be detained and you’ll be swiftly removed.
“And at the same time, it’s humane and compassionate, and people who are relocated to Rwanda will see a safe and secure reception.
“And I think those two elements, robustness with our legal processes in the UK, combined with compassion is the way to solve this problem.”
On the numbers reaching the UK, she said: :”It is regretful that we had 45,000 people arrive illegally in the UK last year. It’s regretful that we’re spending £6 million a day accommodating many of them in hotels throughout towns and cities.
“In the United Kingdom, it’s regretful that we spent £3 billion last year to service our asylum needs. That is what is regretful, we have an enormous and very difficult problem that we need to fix.”
“In the United Kingdom, it’s regretful that we spent £3 billion last year to service our asylum needs. That is what is regretful, we have an enormous and very difficult problem that we need to fix.
“The Prime Minister has made it one of his core pledges to stop the boats…but the policy of our new bill, the illegal migration bill, combined with our world leading partnership with Rwanda, is the solution.
“That is our approach that we are putting forward to fix this problem. And I do believe it will, it will work. I have huge confidence in this partnership I have huge confidence in in Rwanda. And I believe that it will be modelled by other countries in due course.”
On the possibility of other partnerships, she said: “Well, actually, on the back of our victory in the High Court at the end of last year, we have been in discussions with other countries. But let me be clear, our first and foremost priority is to operationalise the partnership that we have with Rwanda. And as you can see, we are making very good progress in rolling it out.”
She added: “I’m confident that our package of measures will work. That’s why we, the Prime Minister and I, are introducing the bill.
“We hope that Parliament supports it so it can get through to Royal Assent quickly. But let me be clear, nothing is ever off the table. And we have to always consider every option as the events pan out.”
Source: GB News
