BASW Statement: New government scraps Rwanda scheme

On his first day as Prime Minister, Keir Starmer confirmed that the Rwanda scheme has been scrapped. BASW had opposed the scheme at every step.

The scheme was designed to deport asylum seekers who have travelled to the UK through what the former government described as an ‘illegal route’. They would be sent to Rwanda and processed there, and if they were found to be a legitimate asylum-seeker then they would be settled in Rwanda. In November 2023, the Supreme Court ruled unanimously that the scheme was unlawful. BASW agreed with the court ruling and we also believed the scheme to be impractical and unethical.

In response to the court ruling, the former Prime Minister Rishi Sunak introduced legislation to enshrine in law that Rwanda was a safe country and that it was lawful to send asylum seekers there. This passed in April 2024, but no planes had taken off before the General Election in July 2024.

BASW had argued the government should reconsider the scheme and instead put their time and efforts into establishing more safe routes for asylum seekers to use so that they are not forced to use unsafe routes out of desperation to flee persecution.

The Labour Party won the General Election on the 4th July and the following day the new Prime Minister Keir Starmer confirmed that the scheme is ‘dead and buried’ and described it as ‘gimmick that has never been a deterrent’.

Along with being impractical and unethical, the scheme was estimated to have cost the government at least £290m so far with half a billion pounds expecting to be the cost within a few years.

Responding to the news of the scheme being scrapped, BASW UK Chief Executive said:

“The quick abandonment of the Rwanda scheme by the new government is welcome, and we hope indicates a more humane and ethical approach to tackling problems the country faces.

“People who travel to the UK through unsafe routes are desperate and often fleeing persecution and danger. It is right that small boats crossing the Channel must be stopped as soon as possible to prevent further loss of life, but unless the government creates meaningful routes to claim asylum here in the UK, people will continue to risk their lives.

“We are very interested in what other plans the new government has to address other challenges and look forward to the Kings Speech on 17th July where he will outline the legislative plans of the next year.”