Overview

• Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has admitted to questioning the cost-effectiveness of the Rwanda deportation scheme during his time as chancellor, but denies doubting its potential success.
• Documents from March 2022 suggest Sunak wanted to limit the number of asylum seekers sent to Rwanda, indicating a belief that the scheme would not deter migrants.
• Since becoming Prime Minister, Sunak has championed the scheme, despite it being stuck in legal gridlock and not a single flight having taken off since its announcement over 18 months ago.
• Sunak is pushing for new legislation to strengthen the scheme's legal protections after the Supreme Court deemed it unlawful last year.
• The Prime Minister has faced criticism from both sides of his party, with some arguing the scheme would break international law, while others fear it does not go far enough.