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11

Dec 2023

Last Updated: 11/12/2023
Politics
Politics

Harrogate and Knaresborough MP won't say if he will support Rwanda bill

by John Plummer

| 11 Dec, 2023
Comment

0

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Harrogate and Knaresborough's Conservative MP Andrew Jones has declined to say whether he will support the government's Rwanda bill tomorrow.

The Safety of Rwanda Bill aims to block legal challenges that prevent deportation flights of asylum seekers from taking off. The government is bringing forward the bill after the Supreme Court ruled its previous attempt to send asylum seekers to Rwanda was unlawful.

The verdict triggered the resignation of Home Secretary Suella Braverman and has led to threats of a rebellion from the right of the Conservative Party, which fears the new bill does not go far enough.

At the same time, some more centrist Conservatives are concerned the bill ignores international law.

If the Conservatives lose the vote, it would be a serious blow to the authority of Prime Minister Rishi Sunak.

The Stray Ferret asked Mr Jones if he would vote in favour of the bill.

He replied:

“We should not think of the Rwanda bill in isolation.  It is part of a number of measures designed to deter people from making the dangerous journey across the English Channel.
"Among these measures are new returns agreements with Albania, enhanced deals with the French authorities, greater support for asylum application processing and more besides.  These measures have led to crossings coming down by a third this year already."


Mr Jones went on to say he “will be looking closely at the bill and any amendments which might be selected for debate by the Speaker", adding:

"When considering those amendments my thoughts will be about how we break the people smuggling gangs and, most importantly, how we stop the grim certainty of more fatalities in our coastal waters.
"This issue is not confined to the UK; we see it again and again in the Mediterranean too.  Breaking these gangs requires an international effort and I know we are working closely with partners on how this is done to the best effect.”