23 December 2023 , 21:01
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Prime minister Rishi Sunak’s controversial Rwanda migrant scheme has cost more than £2.1million in legal bills.
The Home Office paid the sum, which has shot up by £800,000 since March, to external lawyers. It is on top of the cost of in-house legal teams. In response to a Freedom of Information request, a Government mandarin confirmed: “As of 30 November, the total cost the Home Office has spent is £2,137,045.70.”
In addition to legal fees, the stalled scheme has so far cost £240million –despite not a single migrant being sent to the East African nation. Another £50million is pledged for next year, even though the plan is in limbo after the Supreme Court ruled it unlawful.
The Tories were further embarrassed last month when Immigration Minister Robert Jenrick quit, citing “strong disagreements with the direction of the Government’s policy on immigration”. BBC star Gary Lineker, actor Brian Cox and former British Army boss Richard Dannatt are among those calling for the scheme to be scrapped.