As we’ve been reporting, Home Secretary James Cleverly is in Rwanda to sign a new treaty on the government’s asylum plan. Here’s a reminder of that plan:
It was a five-year trial policy that would see some asylum seekers to the UK sent to Rwanda on a one-way ticket.
The government said they would be able to claim asylum there, and could be granted refugee status. If not, they could apply to settle on other grounds, return home, or seek asylum in a “safe third country”.
When the plan was initially announced in April 2022, the government said “anyone entering the UK illegally” could be sent there, with no limit on numbers. The government said it believed it would deter people arriving in the UK through “illegal, dangerous or unnecessary methods” – i.e. small boats which cross the English Channel.
The UK had struck an agreement with Rwanda, including £120m of funding, under which people flown there would be given accommodation and support while their claims were processed. They would then receive a five-year “package of training and support” if granted refugee status.
Following the Supreme Court’s decision in November, the government said it would seek a formal treaty with Rwanda, a move it believed would provide stronger legal guarantees than its current bilateral agreement.
William Turner is a seasoned U.K. correspondent with a deep understanding of domestic affairs. With a passion for British politics and culture, he provides insightful analysis and comprehensive coverage of events within the United Kingdom.
