Voters give their verdict on John Healey’s ’is that it?’ Budget

Under the terms of the agreement anyone arriving illegally in the UK – including small boat migrants – would have faced deportation to Rwanda to claim asylum there instead.

The five EU nations and Rwanda are close to a deal, with a potential announcement due on the sidelines of a migration conference in Vienna next month, according to the Financial Times.

Greece’s migration minister Thanos Plevris said: ’The country and the exact timetable will be announced in November.

’The agreement will be signed by the end of the year or in January, and possibly as early as April or May, returns to a third country will become a reality.’

Sources briefed on the negotiations said that due to budget constraints the EU countries are planning to make use of ’existing infrastructure’ in Rwanda, possibly including facilities built for the scheme cancelled by Labour.

Another source told the FT that officials were specifically looking at a complex that had originally been built for the UK.

The only brand new development known to have been in the scope of the Conservatives’ deal is a development of flats at Gahanga, on the outskirts of Kigali.

In 2023, Mrs Braverman also laid the first bricks of what was intended to become a development of more than 500 apartments.

Another potential site is the Hope Hostel in Kigali, which was visited by then home secretary Dame Priti Patel in 2022 as she announced the deal with the Rwandan government.

The EU countries’ new scheme will aim to deport migrants whose asylum applications have already been rejected.

Some countries including Denmark could later expand its scope to include those who still have asylum claims being considered, it is thought.

Shadow Home Secretary Chris Philp said: ’This shows how weak and foolish the Labour government is.

’The UK’s Rwanda scheme was ready to start in July 2024 but the first thing Labour did after winning the election was to cancel it just days before it was due to start.

’Now we see other European countries using the very facilities the British taxpayers’ money paid for in Rwanda – all because Labour needlessly cancelled our scheme.’

He added: ’Common sense tells you that if illegal immigrants are rapidly deported, they’re pretty soon going to stop coming.

’It’s time this Labour government saw sense and brings back the Rwanda scheme.

’Otherwise illegal immigrants will keep coming – 85,000 have crossed the Channel since the election with many more expected in the coming days.’

A Home Office spokesman said: ’The Home Secretary has repeatedly said that the UK – like other European countries – continues to explore new models like return hubs.

’We are continuing to work closely with governments around the world to develop and maintain returns agreements.’