He was confronted with his own party’s words about Rwanda
A Tory MP was left embarrassed after a car crash interview on Friday morning about the plans to fly unwanted asylum seekers in the UK to Rwanda.
Tom Pursglove was appearing on Sky News to discuss the Rwanda asylum flights, when he said that “appalling stereotypes” were being “thrown around” about the east African country.
But the minister was then pulled up on this by host Niall Paterson who proceeded to read out Foreign Office advice about the country, which says: “Homosexuality is not illegal in Rwanda but remains frowned on by many.
“LGBT individuals can experience discrimination and abuse, including from local authorities. There are no specific anti-discrimination laws that protect LGBT individuals.”
Paterson then said: “That is the advice given to gay people in this country from the Foreign Office – just round the corner from you!”
Home Office minister Tom Pursglove is asked about Rwanda's history on LGBT rights, after the UK government announced plans to send asylum seekers to the African nation.
Get the latest on this story: https://t.co/mNTGQmNgz2 pic.twitter.com/2SKabmtAYc
— Sky News (@SkyNews) April 15, 2022
When pressed for evidence that most people crossing the Channel in boats to get to the UK were economic migrants, Pursglove was unable to provide any.
Niall Paterson – What is the evidence base that the overwhelming majority of people crossing the Channel are economic migrants?
Tom Pursglove(HO Minister) can't give that evidence
Niall Paterson – So there's no evidence.. so the govt should stop saying this without evidence pic.twitter.com/Do5NN3U5EE
— Haggis_UK 🇬🇧 🇪🇺 (@Haggis_UK) April 15, 2022
It wasn’t the only television appearance the MP made on Friday morning, with Pursglove repeating similar performances on BBC Breakfast and Good Morning Britain.
On #BBCBreakfast Charlie Stayt asks Tom Pursglove MP, a Home Office minister, basic questions about Rwanda. He can’t answer them pic.twitter.com/wSqVB3m5jL
— Toby Earle 🇺🇦 Threads tobyontv (@TobyonTV) April 15, 2022
Adil Ray: would you move your family to Rwanda?
Tom Pursglove(HO Minister): That's not relevant
Adil Ray: Of course it's relevant, if it's not good enough for you, why is it good enough for a Syrian or Afghan refugee
The broadband magically failed at this point#GMB pic.twitter.com/CHnhKYiYRf
— Haggis_UK 🇬🇧 🇪🇺 (@Haggis_UK) April 15, 2022
On Thursday, Boris Johnson detailed his government’s plans that will see migrants “offshored” 4,000 miles away from the UK while they wait for a decision on their asylum application.
It’s believed that the Rwandan government will receive £120m as part of the plans, which the British taxpayer will finance.
The Prime Minister said that the plans will combat the “vile people smugglers” turning the ocean into a “watery graveyard.”
https://www.instagram.com/p/CcVqD1moGcO/
It’s believed that the first migrants could be sent to Rwanda from the UK within ‘weeks.’
The Home Office said on Thursday that the first people to be sent there will be notified in the coming weeks, with the first flights taking place in the following months.
But Andrew Griffith, the director of Number 10’s policy unit, told Newsnight that the scheme could be underway in “weeks.”
He told the programme: “It doesn’t require new legislation, we think we can do this under the existing conventions.
“Therefore, this should be possible to be implemented and operationalised in weeks or a small number of months. We are ready to go in that sense.”
Related links:
- MP quits Parliament after sexually assaulting boy
- Priti Patel unlawfully seized asylum seekers’ phones, court rules
- Downton Abbey actor’s well-timed jab at Boris Johnson has left everyone in stitches
