‘Will It Stop The Boats?’: Victoria Derbyshire Grills Jacob Rees-Mogg For U-Turn On ‘Ineffective’ Rwanda Bill

BBC Newsnight host Victoria Derbyshire grilled Tory MP and GB News host Jacob Rees-Mogg Wednesday for voting on the Rwanda bill that, until last week, he had slammed as “ineffective” at stopping illegal migration.

In a relentless barrage of questions, the Conservative politician insisted that his position was consistent throughout the bill’s evolution, after having said it would not work to stop boats of illegal migrants crossing the English Channel from France. Derbyshire, armed with these statement pushed Rees-Mogg on why he voted for the bill.

“We have a bell with loopholes in it…” Rees-Mogg said.

“…which you’ve described as ineffective,” interjected Derbyshire.

The Tory MP corrected: “…which I think is going to be harder to make effective, that is true, but I still think, and this is completely consistent, that it’s better than what we had immediately after the judgment…”

“But you’re actual words were ‘it will not work,’” the host said.

“And time will tell,” Rees-Mogg replied. “I’d be delighted if I turn out to be wrong.”

The host pushed harder: “Of course, you would, but you actually said, ‘To stop illegal migration via the small boats this bill will not work.’”

“I would have been in favour of tightening it, which is why I voted for the amendment,” he continued.

Derbyshire repeated: “I understand that but, in the end, you voted for a bill that you have already told people will not work.”

Rees-Mogg, insisting that his position was consistent.

“What I’ve said is an expression of opinion from the fact of something that wouldn’t work,” he said, “to an opinion that I think is less likely to work than an amended bill to a bill that I hope will work. But it’s better than remaining with the status quo that must be sensible.”

Returning to the pocket of Rees-Mogg’s initial disagreement with the bill, Derbyshire asked simply: “And do you think this bill will now suddenly stop the boats then?”

The Tory replied: “I don’t think it will work speedily, because I think we will have more appeals.”

The host pressed again: “Will it stop the boats?”

Resisting the question, Rees-Mogg replied: “It depends on your timeframe.”

“Will it stop the boats?” Derbyshire repeated.

“I think if you’re talking about between now and a general election,” the politician said, “I think it is unlikely we will see flights [of asylum seekers] going [to Rwanda] before an election. If flights go, it will stop the boats. But, as I don’t think flights will go, I think it will be very difficult to stop the boats without the strengthening that I was supporting.”

“So it’s not going to work and you voted for it,” the host said. “You just explained why you think it won’t work.”