Rishi Sunak defends Tory loudmouth Lee Anderson over Rwanda migrant plan rant

15 November 2023 , 17:49

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Lee Anderson somehow has managed to keep his job as Tory Deputy Chairman (Image: AFP via Getty Images)

Rishi Sunak has defended loudmouth Lee Anderson after he demanded ministers "ignore the laws" and push ahead with the Rwanda plan.

The Conservative Deputy Chairman suggested the deportation flights should begin right away despite being ruled unlawful by the Supreme Court. He described the unanimous judgment by the country’s top judges as a "dark day for the British people".

"I think the British people have been very patient, I've been very patient, and now they're demanding action. And this has sort of forced our hand a little bit now," Mr Anderson said. "My take is we should just put the planes in the air now and send them to Rwanda and show strength. It's time for the Government to show real leadership and send them back, same day."

In his opening words at a Downing Street press conference, the Prime Minister insisted he believed: “The rule of law is fundamental to our democracy.” But when challenged over the top Tory’s law-breaking plea, he refused to condemn him.

Asked whether he would sack Mr Anderson over the remarks, Mr Sunak said: "I think what Lee's comments and indeed the comments of others do is reflect the strength of feeling in the country on this issue. And I absolutely share actually in the frustrations that my colleagues and indeed people across the country have about this issue. Everyone should understand the strength of feeling."

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Mr Sunak has announced plans for a new treaty with Rwanda in a bid to get around the legal hurdles. He said that once Parliament endorses this, "my patience has run thin, as indeed the country's patience has run thin".

Campaigners are calling on Mr Sunak to abandon the Rwanda plan once and for all. Steve Smith of refugee charity Care4Calais described the Supreme Court judgment as a “victory for humanity”.

He said: “Hundreds of millions of pounds have been spent on this cruel policy, and the only receipts the Government has are the pain and torment inflicted on the thousands of survivors of war, torture and modern slavery they have targeted with it.

“Today’s judgment should bring this shameful mark on the UK’s history to a close.”

Sacha Deshmukh, Amnesty International UK’s Chief Executive, said: “The Government must now draw a line under a disgraceful chapter in the UK’s political history.”

John Stevens