ROBERT Jenrick today warns every Channel boat crossing costs Brits about £30 million – as he launches a final appeal to the PM to toughen up his Rwanda Bill.
He said the migration crisis has “wasted” billions of pounds of taxpayers cash and seen “countless communities torn apart”.
AFPBritain’s former Minister of State for Immigration, Robert Jenrick[/caption]
The former immigration minister turned chief rebel will this week lead a Tory mutiny over Rishi Sunak’s flagship borders plan.
If the PM loses the key Rwanda vote – expected in the Commons this Wednesday – then his authority will be hammered and the chances of an early election will rocket.
Mr Jenrick has sent a final, private letter to Mr Sunak urging him to accept his amendments to toughen up the Bill.
Writing in today’s Sun on Sunday, he compared the Bill to “a bucket riddled with holes”.
He said over 100,000 migrants have come to Britain illegally over the past five years – and another 100,000 could arrive if action falls short.
In a blistering assault on the cost of the status quo, he fumed: “For those that get to stay on in the UK, the costs to the taxpayer are extortionate.
PAA group of people thought to be migrants are brought in to Dover, Kent[/caption]
“One study found it costs more than half a million pounds to integrate and support a single illegal migrant.
“So for an average small boat crossing this is almost £30 million.
“That’s the cost of rebuilding a school or the NHS hiring a thousand extra nurses.”
Mr Jenrick was referring to a University of Amsterdam study quoted by the Institute for Market Integration and Economic Policy.
The 2021 study found the average asylum seeker from the Middle East or North Africa cost 625,000 euros – £540,000 – in the Netherlands over their lifetime.
Average boats carry around 60 people.
ReutersBritish Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy[/caption]
The Tory MP was referring to a study by the Institute for Market Integration and Economic Policy.
His words come as a Channel migrant boat arrived in Dover for the first time in nearly a month.
The embattled PM is entering a do or die week as his Rwanda Bill is finally debated in the Commons.
He faces a massive revolt from Tory rightwingers – led by Mr Jenrick and representing the so-called “five families” of different factions.
Over 50 Tory MPs have backed their amendments, designed mainly to crack down on migrants lodging individual appeals and curb the power of international courts to intervene.
Meanwhile, the left of the party – known as the One Nation Conservatives – are also threatening to amend the Bill.
Defiant Rishi is expected to stare down his critics and say none of the proposed changes can be accepted.
Potentially embarrassing votes on the amendments will happen on Tuesday, although they are not expected to pass because Labour will not back them.
The crunch test comes on Wednesday when MPs will vote on the full Bill – known as third reading.
If 32 Tory and Tory aligned MPs vote against it, this could overturn Rishi’s majority.
A defeat would leave him battling for authority and could set Britain on a course for a May election.
So far, only Suella Braverman has publicly vowed to vote against the Bill if there are “no improvements”.
But another rebel told The Sun on Sunday: “There is a core group of us who are prepared to vote against at third reading if the bill is unamended and if there is a decent enough group of us.”
They said junior whips had issued dark warnings of severe “consequences” if they took that nuclear option.
“It was left vague as to what this means- but we took it to mean they would withdraw the whip”, the rebel added.
In another headache for Rishi, a major MRP seat by seat poll of voters is expected to come out next week and predict the Tories will be slaughtered at the general election.
But many Tory MPs are fed up with rightwingers threatening to vote down No10.
A senior Tory MP on the left of the party said: “People should remember there is only one family – the Tory party family.
“Those MPs who are the heads of the so-called five families on the right should remember what happens at the end of The Godfather – they all got shot.”
Home Secretary James Cleverly today tries to rally Tory MPs behind the Rwanda Bill – by slamming Labour’s borders policy.
Writing in The Sun on Sunday, he added: “As Home Secretary I’m interested in tackling what’s unfair to the British people, working on the things they care about.
“Labour should stop their idle boasts and admit their promises are weak. Only the Conservatives can and will stop the boats.”
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