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Andrew RT Davies claims Labour are ‘on the side of people traffickers’ over Rwanda flights opposition

15 Jun 2022 3 minute read
Andrew RT Davies in the Senedd

Welsh Conservative leader Andrew RT Davies has claimed that Labour are “on the side of people traffickers” over their opposition to the Government’s plans to relocate asylum seekers to Rwanda.

He was echoing comments made by Boris Johnson in the House of Commons, who was censured by the chair after also claiming that Labour was “on the side of the people-traffickers who would risk people’s lives at sea”.

Labour have criticised the UK Government’s policy of deporting asylum seekers to Rwanda on the grounds of cost and practicality.

Shadow home secretary Yvette Cooper responded that the Rwanda situation is “a shambles”, telling Home Secretary Priti Patel: “This is not and never has been a serious policy and she knew that when she chartered the plane.”

Yesterday Wales’ First Minister had also blasted the UK Government’s first flight removing asylum seekers to Rwanda as “cruel and inhuman” and a “new low for the UK Government”.

“Today is a dark day for the UK,” he said. “This policy is a new low for the UK Government – and a cruel and inhumane response to those seeking safety and sanctuary in our country.”

Andrew RT Davies’ message, posted on social media, drew criticism from users who said that it was “desperate stuff”.

“Look at yourself man – and ask whether those around you would see this as a good look.,” Gareth Hardman said.

“This is an awful thing to say. When you think someone can’t get any lower…they prove you wrong and produce a tweet like this,” Meinir Hughes said.

“That’s a very strong allegation to put in writing Andrew,” Andrew Edwards said.

‘All options on the table’

Earlier the UK Government threatened to pull out of Europe’s human rights framework after legal rulings blocked their plans to relocate asylum seekers to Rwanda.

Asked if the Government could withdraw from the European Convention on Human Rights, the Prime Minister’s official spokesman said: “We are keeping all options on the table including any further legal reforms that may be necessary.

“We will look at all of the legislation and processes in this round.”

Home Secretary Priti Patel told MPs that three of the asylum seekers set to be on the first flight to Rwanda on Tuesday night had their removal blocked by the Strasbourg-based court, which interprets the ECHR.

She added that it was “inevitable” there would be legal challenges to the Government’s policy.

But she added: “This Government will not be deterred from doing the right thing. We will not be put off by the inevitable legal last-minute challenges.”

In a reference to protests against the plans, she added: “Nor will we allow mobs to block removals.”


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RF50
RF50
2 years ago

How is punishing the victims of the traffickers going to stop the traffickers? This is cruel and inhumane.

Michael Warcup Rieveley
Michael Warcup Rieveley
2 years ago

Andrew R T Davies is knowingly making ridiculous and false accusations and statements in an attempt to support sending refugees to Rwanda. A policy decision of the UK government of Boris Johnson which is wholly unjustifiable on grounds of decency, humanity, and seeking to subvert the law.
Quite frankly he should be ashamed to be seen supporting such a policy that has been roundly condemned as immoral.

Paul
Paul
2 years ago

RT Davies is a stain on the Welsh political landscape

Kerry Davies
Kerry Davies
2 years ago
Reply to  Paul

No, with this hate-speech he is a stain on sentient life.
The idea that lawyers prevent deportation is wildly wrong. Badly drafted law by politicians who then move on to breaking them is the problem.

Rick N
Rick N
2 years ago
Reply to  Paul

Usual sycophantic garbage from andrew Right T*** Davies. Get a grip you are never going anywhere in politics no matter how many asses you lick.

Barry Pandy
Barry Pandy
2 years ago

A weak, pathetic, gutless, spineless little man with absolutely no moral fibre whatsoever. I would pity him but he’s not worth the effort.

Paddy
Paddy
2 years ago

The British govt wants to traffic people to Rwanda.

Look in the mirror RT what do you see?

I see someone else asked the same question

Y Cymro
Y Cymro
2 years ago

Said clueless Andrew RT Davies whose leader Boris Johnson personally ordered a plane to take animals out of Afghanistan leaving hundrends of interpreters & families behind, some falling to their deaths from a plane exiting the country, leaving ones behind to face the rath of religious extremists Taliban. Which now means because the Taliban now control Afghanistan and Britain has severed ties, now means there’s no British Embassy anymore , so those same Interpreters & families left behind, the very ones who put their lives & families at risk helping British forces, cannot claim sanctuary in Afghanistan’s British Embassy because… Read more »

Quornby
Quornby
2 years ago

Every Tory I’ve seen on TV today has used the term “criminal gangs” twice in every sentence. Clearly speaking under orders from some juvenile PR graduate in Downing Street. Pathetic really and our very own OBE jockey is late to the party.

Steve Duggan
Steve Duggan
2 years ago

Interesting on a day where there was a record amount of boats, full of refugees, heading to the UK. It shows this inhumane policy of flying people out to Rwanda is not stopping people crossing, stopping the people smugglers plying their trade or saving any taxpayers money! Why would it when many are winning their cases and staying in the UK? The only reason why the Tories are pressing ahead with this is because they think it is a vote winner, which just happens to meet their tendency for cruelty.

Gareth
Gareth
2 years ago

Right on cue ART Davies goes parroting Boris, and they think, by having a Cymru Am Byth logo, and claiming to have our interests at heart, they will be elected to government in Cymru.Dream on you heartless, sorry excuse for a politician.

John
John
2 years ago

Wedi cyrraedd gwaelod y gasgen ond yn dal i grafu.

Marc
Marc
2 years ago

Long may he stay leader of the Welsh Torys he does more to strengthen the cause of Welsh independence than Dafydd Iwan

John
John
2 years ago
Reply to  Marc

A truly vile individual.

George
George
2 years ago

RT Davies can call for HS2 money to be devolved to Wales but it won’t help him at all if his “blue water” means signing up to a policy which is so cruel and then using such a pathetic soundbite to defend it.

If this is the “Welsh Conservatives” then they really need to think again.

The Original Mark
The Original Mark
2 years ago

And in a new crackdown on crime, ART Davies and the tory party want all victims of Rape, Burglary, and other criminal offences to be locked up, as this is clearly the way to put a stop to the perpetrators from committing these offences.

This is beyond parody, this political party needs to be destroyed, they and their supporters are the true enemy of the UK.

Cai Wogan Jones
Cai Wogan Jones
2 years ago

People smugglers are created by government policy. If we close off all orderly channels for people to escape war zones and repressive regimes and find safety, we force these poor people into the hands of people smugglers.

Why does Westminster refuse to treat all refugees the same, whether they are fleeing Russian shelling and barrel bombs in Ukraine or Syria?

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