The United Kingdom Immigration Minister, Robert Jenrick, has resigned just a few hours after the Prime Minister tabled a bill to save the Rwanda deportation policy.
The Tory MP for Newark, who cited “strong disagreements” with the government policy, said he did not think Prime Minister Rishi Sunak’s emergency legislation to revive the stalled asylum plan would “end the merry-go-round of legal challenges” that have so far paralyzed the scheme.
In his resignation letter to the prime minister, shared on X, formerly Twitter, he said: “In our discussion on the proposed emergency legislation, you have moved somewhat towards my position, for which I am grateful.
“Nevertheless, I am unable to take the currently proposed legislation through the Commons as I do not believe it provides us with the best possible chance of success.”
Jenrick described the bill as “a triumph of hope over experience”.
He added that he cannot continue in his position when he has strong disagreements with the direction of the Government’s policy on Immigration.
Speculations of the MP’s resignation started swirling after the government published the draft.
In a swift reaction, Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has described the resignation as ‘disappointing’.
“Thank you for your letter and your service in government. Your hard work has helped us cut boat crossings by more than a third. You have strived to cut the asylum backlog and return hotels to their communities.
“Your resignation is disappointing given we both agree on the ends, getting flights off to Rwanda so that we can stop the boats.
“I fear that your departure is based on a fundamental misunderstanding of the situation. It is our experience that gives us confidence that this will work.
“Our returns deal with Albania, that you were instrumental in securing, has cut Albanian arrivals by 90%. These Albanian arrivals have far more recourse to the courts than people will under this new legislation.
“But we have still succeeded in returning 5,000 illegal migrants this year and dramatically cutting the numbers, because it has shown that if you come here illegally, you will not be able to stay.
“This bill is the toughest piece of illegal migration legislation ever put forward by a UK government.
“It makes clear that parliament deems Rwanda safe, and no court can second-guess that. It disapplies the relevant parts of the Human Rights Act and makes clear that it is for ministers to decide whether or not to comply with any temporary injunctions issued by the European Court of Human Rights.
“If we were to oust the courts entirely, we would collapse the entire scheme.
“The Rwandan government have been clear that they would not accept the UK basing this scheme on legislation that could be considered in breach of our international law obligations.
“There would be no point in passing a law that would leave us with nowhere to send people to.
“I know that you have more to contribute and that you will continue to represent your constituents in Newark and Bingham with dedication and determination.”
