In a blistering parliamentary showdown, Shadow Home Secretary Yvette Cooper has condemned the government's revised Rwanda asylum scheme as an "unworkable gimmick" designed merely to save Rishi Sunak's political skin.
The Labour frontbencher launched a scathing attack on Home Secretary James Cleverly during Home Office questions, highlighting the astronomical costs and fundamental flaws of the policy. Cooper revealed that despite the fanfare, the scheme would only cover less than 1% of the UK's asylum backlog, making it an exercise in futility.
A Policy of Political Theatre
Cooper didn't hold back in her assessment, stating the plan was "not a solution" but rather "a costly diversion from the urgent action needed." She pointed to the government's own assessment showing skyrocketing costs, with the scheme now requiring a staggering £400 million investment before a single flight takes off.
"The Home Secretary knows this isn't a serious plan," Cooper declared across the despatch box. "It's just a gimmick to try to save the Prime Minister's skin rather than to actually stop the criminal gangs."
Crossing Crisis Continues Unabated
The criticism comes as new figures show Channel crossings remain persistently high, undermining government claims that the Rwanda threat would act as an effective deterrent. Cooper emphasized that the resources poured into the scheme could be better spent strengthening border security and tackling criminal smuggling networks directly.
Despite the government's insistence that the policy will proceed following new treaty arrangements, questions remain about its practical implementation and legal viability, with further challenges expected in the courts.
