The controversial Rwanda plan – How it’s being covered
The government’s controversial Rwanda deportation plan has received a lot of attention. The plan has been widely condemned by Labour politicians, Human Rights watchdogs, royals, celebrities and even the Church of England – who called it ‘ungodly’.
What is the Rwanda plan?
The plan targets people who arrive in the UK by crossing the channel in small boats and dinghies.
These people will enter the Rwandan asylum system and will not be able to return to the UK. They will be placed in temporary accommodation while their applications are considered – a process that will take around 3 months.
Those who choose not to remain in Rwanda will be sent back to their country or a third receiver country.
PM Boris Johnson has said his government will not be “deterred or abashed” by criticism of a plan Sir Keir has described as a “chaotic distraction.”
The first flight was due to depart yesterday but was grounded by the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) at the 11th hour.
The plan, the flight grounding and the interference from the European Courts have sparked wild debates, both in the Commons and online – the papers and the media have taken clear sides.
The left-leaning papers and sites welcome the grounding of the plane and call for the government to backtrack on the plan – a plan Prince Charles called ‘appalling’.
The right-leaning, Tory-supporting papers have expressed their anger at the interference of the courts and the fact the plane did not take off.
These papers and news sites are outraged at the development and are blaming “left lawyers exploiting the system” and keep pushing the narrative that the opposition can’t offer an alternative to the Rwanda plan.
The four articles we’ve highlighted are UK-based sites.
The Guardian article highlights the ‘alternative opposition’ – along with Labour politicians – celebrities, royals and the Church have also voiced their disgust at the Rwanda plan.
The Independent says the government is responsible for the abhorrent racist language that is emerging on social media due to their plan. The paper, along with the Metro, says Labour politicians including David Lammy, Sadiq Khan and Diane Abbott have been told they should ‘Send you to Rwanda’.
The Daily Mail’s anti-Europe stance is as clear as can be in this article. The paper describes the court’s decision as ‘meddling’ and claims the ECHR has been accused of undermining British sovereignty. The paper’s front page said 300 migrants crossed the Channel in small boats yesterday and came close to colliding with an oil tanker – “Where’s the humanity in this?” the newspaper’s front page asks.
The i’s article looks at the flaws of the government’s plan as a deterrent. The article reports on the same facts as the Daily Mail – saying around 260 people crossed the Channel in small boats on Tuesday “despite the Government’s claims that the threat of deportation to Rwanda would act as a deterrent.”