Ex-British Army chief launches savage attack on Suella Braverman's Rwanda plan

08 May 2023 , 07:21

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Suella Braverman has been heavily criticised over her Rwanda deportation project (Image: Wiktor Szymanowicz/REX/Shutterstock)

A former head of the British Army has launched an astonishing attack on the Government's Rwanda policy - saying Suella Braverman is damaging Rishi Sunak.

General Lord Richard Dannatt siad the Central African country has a "dark history" and said he would be "uncomfortable" sending refugees there.

The heavily-criticised Home Office policy was unveiled by Ms Braverman's predecessor, Priti Patel, more than a year ago.

Despite the Home Office spending tens of millions of pounds in taxpayers' cash, not a single flight has taken off and the scheme has been branded a "Tory con".

In an interview with The Independent, Lord Dannatt accused the current Home Secretary of "running down the remaining political capital of Rishi Sunak's Government" with her "unpopular policy".

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He claimed Rwanda is still cast "in the shadow of the genocide", when more than half a million people were killed in 1994.

General Lord Dannatt, the former Chief of the General Staff, has criticised the Government (Getty Images)

And the crossbench peer, a member of the all-party parliamentary group on war crimes, said the country is "ruled with a very firm hand" by leader Paul Kagame.

He said: "It's got a pretty dark history, and it's not the sort of environment I would put people from Syria and elsewhere in the world into."

Lord Dannatt said the Government appeared determined to "bear down" on those arriving in small boats "who are simply seeking a better life".

He stated: "I've been to Rwanda, and the shadow of the genocide there in the 1990s hangs over that country."

Lord Dannatt said: "It's somewhat surprising Suella Braverman is persisting with an unpopular policy... I fail to understand why the Home Secretary is continuing to run down the remaining political capital of Rishi Sunak's Government."

So far the UK Government has paid £140 million to Rwanda, but the Home Office has previously refused to provide a breakdown of the full cost of the scheme.

Ex-Home Secretary Priti Patel with Rwandan Foreign Minister Vincent Biruta in April last year (EUGENE UWIMANA/EPA-EFE/REX/Shutterstock)

Under the plan, some migrants who arrive on small boats will be sent to Rwanda, if they cannot be deported back to their home country.

The plan has so far been stalled by legal action and no flights have taken off.

Ms Patel unveiled the "biggest overhaul of our immigration system in decades" on April 14 last year.

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But MPs have questioned whether it'll deter small boat crossings and Ms Braverman has refused to give a timetable for flights.

Last month Shadow Home Secretary Yvette Cooper told The Mirror: "The Government claimed a year ago this plan would stop the boat crossings but since then the problem has got much worse.

"Ministers have written Rwanda cheques for £140m already yet the only person who has been sent to Rwanda is the Home Secretary on her flashy PR trip."

She branded it a "Tory con", and said: “Every day spent on this failing policy could have been spent doing the things that will actually work to clear the backlog and reduce crossings – things Labour has been calling for repeatedly."

Ms Braverman during a visit to Kigali in March (PA)

And Ms Cooper continued: “Ministers have been so Rwanda obsessed, they’ve failed to do anything serious to tackle the problem.

"They’ve spent loads of money on this extortionately expensive, failing scheme which is only likely to cover a few hundred people and risks making trafficking worse, instead of going after the criminal gangs, getting a proper deal with France and sorting out the chaos in the asylum system.

"It's Government by gimmick and British taxpayers deserve so much better."

In a statement responding to criticism last month the Home Office said: "Our Migration and Economic Development Partnership will see people who come to the UK through dangerous and illegal routes relocated to Rwanda, where they will be given the opportunity to settle and rebuilt their lives.

“Rwanda is a safe and secure country and they stand ready to welcome and support refugees – provisions are in place for accommodation, education and employment, with an estimated capacity to relocate several thousands of people.

“We have a strong relationship with Rwanda and both sides are equally committed to delivering the policy and seeing people relocated as soon as possible.”

Dave Burke