Joyce calls for Senedd debate on Rwanda asylum scheme

Senedd Member Joyce Watson has called for a debate in the Welsh Parliament on the UK Government’s plan to send refugees to Rwanda.

The controversial scheme is a five-year trial which aims to send some refugees from the UK to the central African country for processing and long-term settlement.

A flight that was due to take off last week was cancelled at the last minute following a late legal challenge.

Speaking on the floor of the Senedd, ahead of that decision (14 June), the Labour member for Mid and West Wales deplored the ‘stupid, expensive and ineffective’ policy, and invited Conservative members to express their views.

Mrs Watson said:

“Minister, we’re waiting to see what happens today with the scheduled flight of asylum seekers to Rwanda. But I would be grateful for a Welsh Government update on its discussion with the UK Government on this particular matter.

“The Counsel General provided a useful account last week, but it would be good to have an oral statement that Members might have an opportunity to speak to. It’s an ugly policy. It’s an insult to our country’s reputation, as is the mess over the Northern Ireland protocol. It’s stupid, it’s expensive and it’s ineffective.

“There may be as few as seven people on today’s first flight. That is a massive waste of taxpayers’ money, and it won’t work. Even the Home Office says there’s no evidence of a deterrent effect.

“It’s a cynical attempt to distract from the Tories’ cost-of-living failures and their own infighting. That’s my opinion. Conservative Senedd Members here might disagree with that. So, I think it would be a good time to timetable a discussion to get the real feeling on this horrendous policy from all Members that want to participate in it in this Chamber.”

Answering for the Welsh Government, Lesley Griffiths MS argued the policy was ‘diametrically opposite’ to Wales’ status as a nation of sanctuary.

Lesley Griffiths said:

“I don’t disagree with anything that Joyce Watson says. I think it’s cruel, I think it’s immoral, I think it’s ineffective, I think it’s expensive, and I know that the Minister made those views very clear in the letter jointly with the Scottish Government on 19 May. It’s diametrically opposite to our nation of sanctuary approach that we have here in Wales, and we’re very proud to be a nation of sanctuary.

“I agree with you as well about the effect it will have. I think absolutely it will lead to more trafficking of people, rather than less. If you look at those who are going to be transported to Rwanda, they’re going to be very vulnerable to criminal gangs who will be seeking to exploit the situation. It’s not that long ago, I’m sure, that we had refugees from Rwanda as well. Suddenly, the UK Government believe that it’s okay to transport refugees and asylum seekers there.

“I think it really will make it more challenging for people to seek safety from war and persecution going forward, and lead to longer delays—and they’re already far too long—in the asylum system.”

An eleventh-hour intervention by the Strasbourg-based European Court of Human Rights halted the flight, and there are now fresh challenges in the UK courts. However, the UK Government insists it will arrange another flight to Rwanda.