My Take | Rishi Sunak should be changing refugee policy not changing the facts
- The British PM is trying to circumvent a court finding that sending asylum seekers to Rwanda would have them face a real risk of persecution
Britain opened its doors to Hong Kong residents in 2021 and more than 160,000 have taken the opportunity to move there under a new visa scheme for British National (Overseas) passport holders.
But the United Kingdom does not welcome all arrivals to its shores. Asylum seekers, claiming they face persecution in their home countries, have faced increasingly tough barriers to entry.
Many have, since 2018, risked their lives by crossing the English Channel in tiny dinghies and boats provided by trafficking gangs. More than 45,000 arrived in 2022 – a record – and a further 27,000 this year.
The trend has become a hot political issue for Prime Minister Rishi Sunak ahead of an election expected next year, with immigration a key concern among supporters of his Conservative Party.
Sunak has vowed to “stop the boats”. But they keep coming. The government hatched an extraordinary plan to solve the problem – send the asylum seekers to Rwanda. But last week, the Supreme Court ruled the scheme unlawful, causing shock and fury in Westminster.
The plan was to fly asylum seekers from Britain to the African country, which would process their claims instead. In return, Britain paid Rwanda an initial £140 million (HK$1.35 billion).