On Thursday, Prime Minister Rishi Sunak appointed a Minister of Legal Migration and an Illegal Migration, replacing the resigned Minister for Immigration, Robert Jenrick, who found Sunak’s immigration plans insufficiently strict.
Jenrick stepped down on Wednesday, citing his disagreement with the treaty the British government signed with Rwanda on Tuesday, allowing the deportation of illegal refugees to the African nation. Jenrick argued for more stringent measures to curb migrant crossings in boats across the English Channel.
Sunak contends that the treaty aligns with European human rights policies, and he believes the plans are immune to legal challenges from the British Supreme Court and the European Court of Human Rights. On Tuesday, the British House of Commons will convene to discuss the asylum law aimed at facilitating the deportation of refugees to Rwanda.
Michael Tomlinson assumes the role of Minister of Illegal Migration, focusing on implementing plans for sending refugees to Rwanda, while Tom Pursglove takes on the position of Minister of Legal Migration.
Jenrick’s resignation has intensified pressure on Sunak within the Conservative Party. Some members argue that the plans lack sufficient rigor, advocating for a provision in the new law allowing the disregard of European human rights rules—an idea Sunak considers too extreme.
Last month, Interior Minister Suella Braverman, a prominent figure in the right wing of the party, voiced criticism on Thursday, stating that Sunak’s migration plans are ineffective in deterring refugees—a sentiment echoed within the Conservative Party.
