Speaking to Laura Kuenssberg after resigning on Wednesday, former immigration minister Robert Jenrick was disparaging in his assessment of the government’s new Rwanda legislation. Explaining his resignation, he said he couldn’t be the minister guiding the bill through parliament. Jenrick implied he had a better understanding of the issue than the Prime Minister, and that a ‘political choice’ had been made to bring forward a bill which wouldn’t do the job. Jenrick claimed that under the proposed legislation, the Rwanda scheme would be bogged down by migrants’ potential legal claims and would not act as an effective deterrent.
Michael Gove: ‘this bill is the robust measure required’
In defence of the government’s plans, Levelling up Secretary Michael Gove argued that the scheme would not be mired by legal claims. He told Laura Kuenssberg that there were only ‘narrow exemptions’ to the policy, and individuals could only challenge their deportation if there was ‘an immediate risk of serious… harm’ to themselves personally. Gove claimed Rwanda was ‘clearly a safe country’, but also suggested that the fact the bill was being criticised on one side of the debate for striking out human rights legislation was evidence that it was sufficiently ‘robust’.
Liz Kendall: Home Secretary’s immigration plan has a fundamental flaw
On Sky News, Trevor Phillips asked Shadow Work and Pensions Secretary Liz Kendall about James Cleverly’s recently announced five-point plan to cut legal migration. Kendall claimed Labour had been calling for some of the Home Secretary’s proposals for some time, but said the government was not dealing with the crucial issue of skill shortages. Kendall told Phillips that Labour would have ‘fundamental reforms’ of apprenticeships and training to cut immigration in a way that works for the economy.
Olena Zelenska: ‘If the world gets tired, they will simply let us die’
Finally, Ukrainian First Lady Olena Zelenska spoke to Laura Kuenssberg about the worsening plight of her country, in the face of an ammunition shortage for the Ukrainian army. Zelenska made an impassioned plea for the continued support of western countries, saying a lack of support would be a ‘mortal danger’ to her people.
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