Robert Jenrick quits as immigration minister after Rwanda bill published
Jenrick cites ‘strong disagreements’ with direction of policy, after legislation did not seek to allow overriding of international law
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Rajeev Syal Wed 6 Dec 2023 19.47 GMT First published on Wed 6 Dec 2023 19.05 GMT
The immigration minister, Robert Jenrick, has quit, just hours after the prime minister tabled a bill to save the Rwanda deportation policy.
Jenrick stood down after the legislation did not allow ministers to override international laws which have stopped the government from sending asylum seekers to central Africa.
His resignation will be seen as a move to position himself as the head of a growing rightwing rebellion aimed at ensuring that the UK can act unilaterally and send flights to Kigali.
First I thought he left because they continue to push for this illegal, expensive and unworkable Rwanda plan but now can see he left because they refused to go far enough and overwrite international law… Just wow
Who knew the guy who painted over children’s cartoons was unsuitable for a serious position in government?
This is the best summary I could come up with:
Jenrick stood down after the legislation did not allow ministers to override international laws which have stopped the government from sending asylum seekers to central Africa.
His resignation will be seen as a move to position himself as the head of a growing rightwing rebellion aimed at ensuring that the UK can act unilaterally and send flights to Kigali.
“I cannot continue in my position when I have such strong disagreements with the direction of the government’s policy on immigration.”
James Cleverly paid tribute to Jenrick, claiming the former minister’s work had been “instrumental”.
The home secretary told the Commons: “I have from this dispatch box and a number of other locations said how much I value the work of the immigration minister.
“I have no doubt that the whole of government will work to make sure this legislation achieves what we, I think, all should want to achieve, which is to break the business model of people smugglers and to prevent people being abused by them in an attempt to come and live in the UK.”
The original article contains 274 words, the summary contains 177 words. Saved 35%. I’m a bot and I’m open source!
