James Cleverly set to fly to Rwanda next week to sign new migrant treaty
JAMES Cleverly is set to fly to Rwanda next week in a bid to start deporting Channel migrants by the spring.
The Home Secretary hopes to sign a new treaty with the East African nation — with insiders hinting a deal is close to completion.
No10 promised such a move last month after the Supreme Court struck down the original plan.
It was delayed by wrangling over Britain’s involvement in the Rwandan asylum and legal system — but sources think those have been ironed out.
The fresh treaty would also address concerns that Rwanda might return genuine asylum seekers to face “ill treatment” in the country they had fled.
Sources said Mr Cleverly, who built up relationships during his time as Foreign Secretary, deserved “a lot of credit”.
However, the Government still needs to get emergency legislation over the line in the UK.
The Government hopes to bring legislation to Parliament before MPs leave for their Christmas break in just over two weeks.
But they have not ruled out sitting over the festive period in order to get the legislation through.
Rwandan government sources stressed they remained “rock solid” in their commitment to Rishi Sunak’s scheme amid claims they were going wobbly.
Tory MPs are increasingly divided over the legislation with those on the right pushing ministers to simply walk away from the European Convention on Human Rights.
But “One Nation” Tories have written to the PM saying they will not support attempts to override the Strasbourg court.
The Rwanda scheme is a key plank of Mr Sunak’s promise to “stop the boats” crossing from France.