The recently revealed breakdown of expenditures on the scrapped Rwanda deportation scheme totals £715 million, including payments to the Rwandan government and costs related to flights and infrastructure. Home Secretary Yvette Cooper disclosed that the initiative resulted in only four deportations and failed to deter Channel crossings, leading to its cancellation by the new Labour government.
A total of £715 million was expended on the scrapped Rwanda deportation scheme, according to a comprehensive cost breakdown recently disclosed. The expenditures included £290 million paid to the Rwandan government, £50 million allocated for flights and associated logistics, and £95 million directed towards the establishment of detention and reception centers between 2022 and June 2024. Additional expenses, encompassing the creation of new IT systems, legal fees, and staffing, amounted to £280 million.
Home Secretary Yvette Cooper announced these detailed costs in a statement to the House of Commons, noting, “In the two years the partnership was in place, just four volunteers were sent to Rwanda at a cost of £700 million.” She highlighted that the plan resulted in 84,000 individuals crossing the English Channel within the timeframe that the deal was operational, stating, “This so-called deterrent did not result in a single deportation or stop a single boat crossing the Channel.”
The Rwanda plan, initiated under the previous Conservative government, aimed to deport migrants who entered the UK illegally via small boats. However, it was met with criticism regarding its efficacy as a deterrent. Earlier this year, following a change in government, the scheme was terminated, with estimated costs reaching £700 million. The current administration anticipates that abolishing the agreement will lead to immediate savings of approximately £750 million, which may be reallocated to enhance border security measures.
Staff involved in the Rwanda initiative have been reassigned to immigration enforcement and return operations. Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch has expressed her party’s intention to pursue effective deterrents against illegal migration, alluding to reconsideration of the Rwanda plan among other potential strategies.
The Rwanda deportation scheme, originally proposed by the Conservative government, aimed to deter illegal immigration by deporting individuals who crossed the English Channel in small vessels to Rwanda for processing. The policy was controversial, facing significant political and public opposition. Critics argued that the scheme lacked empirical support for its claimed deterrent effects. Following the change of administration to Labour, the decision was made to terminate the program, prompting a detailed examination of its financial implications.
In summary, the scrapped Rwanda deportation scheme incurred £715 million in costs, with substantial portions allocated to payments to the Rwandan government and infrastructure setup in the UK. Despite its intentions to deter illegal crossings, the plan had negligible success, further leading to its cancellation under the current Labour government. The financial burden raised questions about the effectiveness of such policies in managing immigration and border control.
Original Source: www.expressandstar.com
