Rishi Sunak will welcome the news more failed asylum seekers are being sent to Rwanda – but Labour will scrap his plan
Rwanda boost
HE may not have got any planes away before calling an election, but sending more failed asylum seekers individually to Rwanda this week is some welcome news for Rishi Sunak.
Rwanda remains the only credible plan to tackle the small boats crisis.
Proof that it is having a deterrent effect is in the thousands of migrants now desperately trying to get into Ireland — and the safety of EU rules — to escape the threat of deportation to Africa.
Other countries are queuing up to follow Britain’s lead as migration threatens to destabilise Europe and America.
Labour, of course, has pledged to scrap it on day one, regardless of any outcome.
But the public is aghast at the failure to control our borders properly.
Without the Rwanda plan the alternative effectively becomes an open border policy where anyone with a claim, however spurious, is allowed in.
Sir Keir Starmer is right that more needs to be done to bring down the vile people-smuggling gangs profiting from human misery.
But solutions also need to be found to stop migrants wanting to risk their lives to get to Britain in the first place.
Who will come up with them?
Pub cruel
DEVASTATING pub closures are pushing the trade to the brink.
With 80 a month going to the wall it won’t be long before they become nothing more than a fond memory.
What a tragic loss that would be.
As well as pints for punters, many serve an important role in their communities.
They provide a lifeline for older people, many of whom live alone.
And a good village landlord is worth a hundred parish councillors.
Labour’s Rachel Reeves has a five-point plan to save our pubs.
There are some good ideas — including handing communities the right-to-buy their local.
Crippling business rates must also be looked at by any new Government.
If we don’t act now, we’ll miss our boozers when they’re gone.
Hansen’s hope
IN typical no-nonsense fashion, Alan Hansen is playing life to the whistle.
Having been stuck down by sudden illness he was left fighting in intensive care.
It’s wonderful and timely news to hear his old Liverpool pal Graeme Souness reveal the former Match of the Day legend is now winning his health battle.
No doubt Alan will be hoping Scotland can show similar incredible spirit against Switzerland tomorrow.