Robert Jenrick steps down from his position as immigration minister due to concerns over Rwanda legislation

Robert Jenrick has resigned from his position as immigration minister, citing dissatisfaction with the government's emergency Rwanda legislation. He argued that stronger protections were needed to prevent legal challenges from undermining the scheme. While the bill declares in UK law that Rwanda is a safe country for asylum seekers, it falls short of the demands of some Conservative party members. In his resignation letter to Rishi Sunak, Jenrick stated that although the prime minister had moved closer to his position on the legislation, he did not believe it provided the best chance of success. Responding to the resignation, Sunak described it as disappointing and based on a fundamental misunderstanding of the situation. He emphasized the importance of maintaining the courts' involvement in the scheme. The plans to send asylum seekers to Rwanda are intended to discourage individuals from crossing the English Channel in small boats. However, legal challenges have repeatedly delayed the scheme, and no asylum seekers have been relocated to Rwanda thus far. Jenrick, who had supported Sunak's leadership campaign, viewed the emergency legislation as the last opportunity for the government to demonstrate its commitment to curbing small boat crossings. The loss of a minister who was once a key ally is a setback for Sunak at a time when the government is seeking to address migration issues. Labour's shadow home secretary, Yvette Cooper, commented on the chaos within the Conservative party and the collapse of Sunak's leadership, noting the irony that the immigration minister resigned while Sunak announced the Rwanda plan in Parliament. Speculation is growing that Sunak could face a vote of no confidence from his own party members due to the discontent within the Conservative ranks. The draft bill, released by the government, attempts to address concerns raised by the UK's Supreme Court, which ruled last month that plans to send asylum seekers to Rwanda were unlawful. The bill instructs the courts to ignore key sections of the Human Rights Act and other laws that interfere with deportations to Rwanda. However, it falls short of overriding the entire Human Rights Act, the European Convention on Human Rights, or the Refugee Convention, as some Conservative MPs desired. The bill does allow migrants to challenge their removal to Rwanda on individual grounds if they can prove the risk of serious harm. Critics, including former Home Secretary Suella Braverman, argue that the bill is seriously flawed and will face significant legal challenges. To avoid backlash, the government refrained from overriding the ECHR, a red line for centrist Tories. The One Nation group, consisting of over 100 Tory MPs, cautiously welcomed the government's decision to uphold the rule of law, but expressed concerns and plans to seek legal advice regarding the practicalities of the bill. Government lawyers have also cautioned that the draft legislation may not be compatible with the ECHR and could be legally contested. Jenrick, a Conservative MP since 2014, served as housing secretary before holding the position of immigration minister. He consistently advocated for a tougher stance on legal and illegal immigration and was involved in several controversies, including the approval of planning permission for a Tory donor and the removal of a mural at a child asylum center.