Boris Johnson has defended his plan to send migrants arriving illegally in the UK thousands of miles away to Rwanda as “the morally right thing to do”.
The policy is part of the prime minister’s plan to tackle the problem of dangerous Channel crossings by migrants in small boats – though he admitted there would be legal challenges and it would not happen overnight.
Mr Johnson rebuffed concerns from charities that the plan – which he said would see tens of thousands of people sent to the east African country over coming years – was “cruel and nasty”.
Backlash as PM reveals Rwanda plan – politics live
He said: “This is the morally right thing to do and the humane and compassionate thing to do.
“We cannot have people continuing to die at sea, paying huge sums to evil people trackers who are simply exploiting their hopes and their ambitions.
“We need to encourage them to take the safe and legal route if they want to come to this country.”
The wider strategy will also see a previously-announced plan for the Royal Navy to take over responsibility for tackling people crossing the Channel take effect from today.
At a speech in Kent, the PM said that “those who tried to jump the queue or abuse our systems will find no automatic path to set them up in our country”.
He said that from today anyone caught entering the UK illegally – such as on small boats or hidden in lorries – as well as those who have already arrived illegally from 1 January, may be relocated to Rwanda.
The Home Office made no suggestion that only men would be sent there – after Welsh Secretary Simon Hart earlier told Sky News that the plan was to deal with male economic migrants while women, children and asylum seekers would still be processed in the way they are now.
Those who successfully apply for refugee status will be given the right to remain in Rwanda and if unsuccessful could still be granted an…
Source : skynews
