Rishi Sunak hits back at Emmanuel Macron for criticising his Rwanda plan as ‘betrayal’ of values
RISHI Sunak last night hit back at Emmanuel Macron for attacking his Rwanda deportation plan the day it became law.
The French President sparked a major diplomatic spat yesterday after blasting the flagship immigration scheme as a “betrayal” of European values.
While not singling out Britain specifically, his outburst against using African countries was taken by No10 as a direct criticism of their policy to remove small boat arrivals to Kigali.
Under the plan anyone who arrives illegally risks being removed to Rwanda – which The Sun understands includes the survivors of this week‘s Channel tragedy.
Downing Street was blindsided by Mr Macron’s comments and yesterday issued a robust response.
The PM’s spokeswoman said: “We don’t agree. We think that our approach is the right one.
“In terms of breaking the business model of the criminal gangs, we’ll need a strong deterrent. We need to make clear that if you come here on a small boat you won’t be able to stay.
“That is how we will break that business model. And indeed, we’ve seen other partners and other countries around the world explore similar options.”
Tory MPs also let rip and told the French President to focus on stopping small boats leaving Calais in the first place.
Rishi Sunak hopes it will be third time lucky on law to stop the boats
By JACK ELSOM, Chief Political Correspondent
FIVE months after the Supreme Court appeared to have sunk the Rwanda plan, it is now back on track.
The Safety of Rwanda Act – that becomes law today – is the third piece of legislation designed to stop small boats in two years.
Rishi Sunak is confident that this one is finally tough enough to make deportations to Kigali a viable threat, and therefore deter illegal migrants making the dangerous Channel crossing.
He insists both Britain and Rwanda are ready for the first flights to take off in July to kickstart a “regular rhythm” of planes.
The process of detaining those migrants earmarked for the first flights can now begin, although the Home Office is remaining tight-lipped over how they have been selected.
One thing for certain is that an army of lawyers are gearing up to launch legal challenges on behalf of those individuals scheduled for removal.
The threshold they have to meet is that migrants face a risk of “serious and irreversible harm” by being sent to Kigali.
Ministers previously insisted that the Safety of Rwanda Act would force courts to throw out around 95 per cent of all claims.
Time will tell if the legislation is as watertight as they hope – and whether it proves to be an effective deterrent for those considering piling into small boats.
The PM also faces pressing questions over his plans for the tens of thousands of illegal migrants here in the UK with no chance of asylum.
Although the Rwanda scheme is technically uncapped, it seems unlikely that many will be sent there any time soon.
But if serious numbers are removed – and it has a tangible impact on Channel crossings – then Mr Sunak will have something to sell to voters heading into the election.
And it will open up a clear dividing line with Labour, who have said they would scrap the scheme altogether.
Marco Longhi, who sits on the Commons Home Affairs committee, told The Sun: “Mr Macron should take some of his own advice and ask whether French police letting migrants cross the Channel and risking their lives is a betrayal of European values.”
Mr Macron – who is struggling in the polls – yesterday launched an assault on “this model that some people want to put in place, which means that you go and look for a third country, for example in Africa, and send our immigrants there”.
He said: “This is a betrayal of our values and will lead us down the path of new dependencies on third countries.”
The rift emerged as the Safety of Rwanda Act was finally signed into law and the new treaty ratified by both countries – meaning the Home Office can begin detaining those earmarked for the first flights.
Home Secretary James Cleverly said: “Our robust Act and Treaty make clear once and for all that Rwanda is a safe country.”
And his counterpart in Kigali Dr Vincent Biruta added: “Rwanda has always been ready and prepared to receive migrants and asylum seekers.”
The Home Office is tight-lipped about who will be among the first migrants when flights start in July, but it could include those who made it across the Channel on Monday when five died.
Home Office sources confirmed that the 58 passengers will fall under the “scope” of the new legislation.
A group of around 30 African men said to have sparked Tuesday’s tragedy are being quizzed by UK cops after French police launched a manslaughter probe.
A seven year-old Kuwaiti girl was among the five believed to have suffocated under the rubberised hull of the crammed craft after falling into the freezing sea.
A fourth man among the migrant group was arrested yesterday as officials pledged that criminal suspects implicated in the deaths could face deportation to France.