Priti Patel has insisted that Rwanda is a “safe” country, despite warnings from Foreign Office officials of torture and killings.

The latest defence from the home secretary comes after court documents revealed officials in the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) had concerns about the plan to send illegal migrants to the central African country.

Politics Hub: Tory members think party wrong to ditch Johnson

One unnamed FCDO worker said torture and “even killings” are accepted in Rwanda. The UK high commissioner to Rwanda in 2021 warned that the country “has been accused of recruiting refugees to conduct armed operations in neighbouring countries”.

But Ms Patel said: “Well, actually, Rwanda is a safe country.”

“All our work has shown that and the government-to-government work has shown that too,” she added.

“You are of course referring to comments made from officials in a different government department, but of course, it’s the Home Office that has led the Economic Development Migration Partnership, which is our resettlement partnership to Rwanda.

More than 13,000 people have crossed English Channel in small boats since Rwanda scheme was announced by Priti Patel, new figures show

Home Office response to migrant crossings ‘poor’ and system ‘overwhelmed’, says damning report

Recreational drug users could have passports and driving licences confiscated under new plans in government crackdown

“Rwanda is a safe country and all our work with the government of Rwanda shows that.”

No one has yet been sent to Rwanda, after the first flight to the country was stopped at the 11th hour by legal challenges.

Charities and asylum seekers are currently involved in legal action with the UK government over the scheme.

On Wednesday, Lord Justice Lewis ruled that four extracts from advice from the FCDO to the Home Office on the plan could be withheld from the public, as well as some words in other parts of the document.

The government had been seeking to keep 10 passages completely under wraps.

A full hearing is scheduled to take place next month on whether the plan is lawful or not.

Read more:
People smuggler says ‘I do not force anyone to get on boats’
‘I will kill myself’ before I’m sent to Rwanda, says Channel migrant

Asked which of Liz Truss or Rishi Sunak would be best placed to deliver the Rwanda policy, Ms Patel declined to endorse either candidate.

She said: “Well, it’s government policy to deliver the resettlement scheme to Rwanda. So this isn’t about any particular candidate – this is the work of the government.

“It is set in stone through the new plan for immigration, which was published in March last year.”

Both Mr Sunak and Ms Truss have backed the Rwanda policy as part of their campaigns to be the next Tory leader.

Related posts:

Blair: Starmer ‘struggling to break through with the public’ Cameron says he was paid ‘far more than what I earned as PM’ to lobby on behalf of Greensill Labour could ‘go under’ with Starmer at the helm, says outgoing Unite boss UK embassy security fears after Briton suspected of spying for Russia arrested in Germany More than 58,000 apply to stay in UK after deadline for post-Brexit settlement scheme PM to repeal parts of Coronavirus Act that are ‘no longer necessary’ Javid: Not right to ‘doggedly’ stick to manifesto and ignore strain on health service Omicron cases being treated in hospital, cabinet minister tells Sky News PM facing major revolt over COVID-19 curbs, amid ‘authoritarianism’ warning Booster jabs offered to all adults by end of the year to tackle ‘tidal wave’ of Omicron cases – PM Is a culture change in No 10 possible while Johnson stays PM? Sturgeon under pressure to ease COVID restrictions in Scotland