Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
CHARLES & PM SET FOR RWANDA CLASH
Meeting at leaders’ summit
BORIS Johnson faces showdown talks with Prince Charles after his plan to deport asylum seekers to Rwanda sparked outrage.
The future king will hold a private meeting with the PM before the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in the capital Kigali.
Sources said they will “share a cup of tea” before each undertaking a schedule of events, and likely be pictured together.
It will be the first time the pair have met since reports claimed the prince branded the flights policy “appalling”.
Clarence House has not denied the private remarks, said to include the heir saying he was “disappointed”. Speaking WHISTLE STOP PM leaves Downing Street before he left, Mr Johnson blasted “condescending attitudes” of opponents towards the Rwanda plan.
Asked if the prince was one of those “condescending” people, the PM replied: “I have no evidence for the
assertion you’ve just made about the prince’s comments. I can’t confirm that. I’m looking forward very much to seeing him.”
Sources insisted the conversation is likely to focus on summit priorities such as Ukraine, trade and investment, climate change and girls’ education.
There has been outrage over removal flights costing £500,000 each – and fears over Rwanda’s human rights record.
Mr Johnson yesterday vowed to press on with the plan and change UK law so he can ignore the European court.
He will land in Kigali this morning with his wife Carrie at the start of eight days of diplomacy which will also take him to Germany and Madrid.
Ahead of the summit, 24 groups warned Rwandan media and civil society face “relentless harassment, attacks and threats” and “torture”.
Mr Johnson’s official spokesman said: “As ever, you would expect the PM to raise human rights issues. We want Rwanda to uphold and champion the Commonwealth values.”
I have no evidence for your assertion about the prince. I’m looking forward to seeing him BORIS JOHNSON SPEAKING BEFORE LEAVING FOR RWANDA