Boris Johnson’s Rwanda plan is like something from a TV comedy sketch – except it’s real and it will leave real people stranded on the other side of the world.
On The Hard Shoulder playwright and columnist Bonnie Greer said the plan is nothing more than an attempt to divert attention from the ‘Partygate’ scandal.
Under the plan, anyone caught entering the UK illegally since January of this year will be sent to Rwanda while their asylum application is considered.
Those who are granted refugee status will be given the right to remain in east African country, rather than in the UK.
In a speech this afternoon, Mr Johnson described Rwanda as one of the safest countries in the world – despite the fact it was criticised by the UK over its human rights record just last year.
Ms Greer said the plan would be funny if it wasn’t real.
“If it appeared on ‘Have I Got News for You?’ or ‘Saturday Night Live’ or something, I would just be sitting there laughing at it because you know, it’s not real, is it?” she said. “But it is.”
Partygate
She said Mr Johnson is simply trying to turn attention away from the fines her received for attending lockdown parties at 10 Downing Street – which made him the first British Prime Minister to be found guilty of breaking the law while in office.
“Boris had to do something because this Partygate thing was blowing up in his face,” she said. “His base didn’t like it.”
“He violated something very intrinsic in the British people about fairness, so he got that message and how else to actually deter them and take them away from it? Immigration.
“And not only that but take them as far away as you can possibly take them – To Rwanda.”
Immigration
She said the plan will now face numerous legal challenges – ensuring it takes up plenty of attention for some time to come.
“It will have a challenge from what Boris will call ‘lefty lawyers,’” she said.
“They will come out in droves and Boris will have this all ready and tied up in a bow in time for the main elections.
“Now he won’t tell the public that this is going to cost them millions to have this done but you know, you just keep blowing that immigration whistle and people come a running.”
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