President hints at refund of £240m if scheme fails
THE Rwandan president yesterday indicated Britain could have some of its cash returned if the migrant scheme fails.
Paul Kagame said it was the ‘UK’s problem’ asylum seekers had not yet been sent to his country.
‘If they don’t come, we can return the money,’ an apparently exasperated Mr Kagame told the BBC at the World Economic Forum in Davos.
It emerged last month that £ 40million of British taxpayers’ money has already been committed to the scheme, with a further £ 50million earmarked for the next financial year.
Asked if the deal was working, Mr Kagame said: ‘It’s the UK’s problem, not Rwanda’s problem.’
Downing Street dismissed suggestions the Government could abandon the Rwanda scheme and seek a refund, saying: ‘Our focus is on securing the progress of the Bill through the House.’
The Prime Minister’s press secretary said Mr Kagame was right. ‘He said it is the UK’s problem - we would not demur from that,’ she said, ‘it is people trying to break into the UK.’
Rwandan government spokesman Yolande Makolo later confirmed the country has ‘no obligation’ to return any of the funds paid. But she added that if the UK requests a refund ‘we will consider this’.
‘To talk about figures at this point is premature... [we] remain committed to making the partnership work.’ Home Office permanent secretary Sir Matthew Rycroft told MPs last month there was a ‘break clause’ in the Rwanda deal which allows either government to walk away with three months’ notice.
Labour’s Shadow Home Secretary Yvette Cooper said: ‘If Rwanda says we can have the money back from this failing scheme, Rishi Sunak should seize the chance, instead of dragging out this Tory asylum chaos.’