Leaked Documents Leave Rishi Sunak Squirming As BBC Host Presses Him On Rwanda ‘Doubts’
Prime Minister Rishi Sunak squirmed as BBC journalist Laura Kuenssberg confronted him with leaked government documents which seemed to show his scepticism regarding the government’s contentious Rwanda deportation scheme.
Sunak denied having significant doubts about the policy during his appearance on BBC One’s Sunday programme with Kuenssberg.
The government papers from March 2022 indicated Sunak, then Chancellor under then-Prime Minister Boris Johnson, questioning the scheme’s efficacy and financial justification for the scheme. The documents shed light on his apprehensions about whether the initiative would actually deter boat crossings and if it represented value for money.
“Do you admit that you have reservations about the scheme?” the host asked.
However, in an attempt to dismiss the claims, Sunak, pressed repeatedly by Kuenssberg, asserted his belief in the scheme.
“No. I haven’t seen these documents so I can’t comment on them specifically but I discussed it with the prime minister and ultimately funded the plans and the scheme,” he said.
“Well the interesting thing is that the documents that I have seen, No. 10 documents from 2022, describe your view as being that the deterrent would not work. Do you deny that?” she pressed again.
Sunak stuttered in response, saying that he had not seen “these documents.”
Kuenssberg pushed on the line of questioning harder.
“I think you’re really expanding this beyond what it is,” Sunak said. “As chancellor my job is to scrutinise and ask tough questions of every single proposal that crosses my desk. That was my job as chancellor because ultimately this is all taxpayers’ money. Just because someone is asking tough questions, it doesn’t mean they don’t believe in the proposal.”
Further distancing himself from the apparent doubts cast by the leaked documents, the Prime Minister highlighted his proactive approach in prioritising a scheme to deport boat migrants to Albania since taking office. He defended his stance, stating it is “wrong” to suggest he doesn’t believe in the principles of the Rwanda plan.
In a new revelation, Sunak also disclosed impending legislation aimed at empowering ministers to override Rule 39 orders from the European Court of Human Rights. This move comes in the wake of a June 2022 incident where such an order halted a Rwanda-bound flight.
