Robert Jenrick says PM’s Rwanda bill ‘doesn’t work’ as he proposes amendments

Robert Jenrick spoke in the House of Commons today, arguing in favour of amendments to the government’s Rwanda legislation.

The former immigration minister opened his contribution by saying the key point in the debate is “what works”.

He added: “It doesn’t matter whether this is the most robust piece of immigration legislation we’ve ever done. …

“It doesn’t matter whether this is a suitable compromise between this faction or that. It might be a noble aim, but that’s not what we’re here to do on behalf of our constituents here today.

“What matters is, does this scheme work?”

He was challenged by Labour MP Sir Chris Bryant, who declared: “I completely agree with him about one thing. I don’t think this bill will work. …

“And that is because I think he and I come to a completely different position as to the nature of the deterrence and whether it would work at all. Because it seems to me self-evident that there must be an enormous deterrent if you have to get in a tiny boat risking your life as a pregnant woman with children beside you, having paid thousands of pounds to a vile, despicable people trafficker.

“What evidence does he have that this plan gimmick is any more deterrent than that?”

Jenrick responded: “There are millions of people in the world who want to make this journey. There are thousands of people in France seeking to pay people smugglers to come to our country.

“The only way you will stop this is if you break the people smugglers business model once and for all”.

Beyond the Rwanda Bill: The Conservative Party faces a bitter, protracted reckoning