Mr Tice launched a searing rant against the PM (Image: Getty)
Richard Tice has blasted Rishi Sunak as “inadequate” to deal with the immigration crisis.
The leader of Reform UK issued a withering assessment of the Prime Minister’s attempts to handle huge migration figures - as well as those of the Conservative Party over the last few years. He argued that “in four separate general elections the Tory party promised to bring down legal immigration numbers”, but statistics show this has not happened.
He added that “post-Brexit they changed the rules, not to tighten and reduce immigration but to open the borders and allow a wholly predictable surge.”
But Mr Sunak, who has recently faced multiple resignations and a storm of criticism over his attempts to get his controversial Rwanda plan through parliament, was the biggest target of Mr Tice’s ire. In an op-ed for the Telegraph, he said the measures put in in place by the PM are “hopelessly inadequate for the task”, adding that “Rwanda is just a side show”.
Powered By
00:00/00:46
10
10
Rishi Sunak on Keir Starmer's EU anthem choice
Share
Next
Stay
READ MORE Angela Merkel's allies push for migrant policy like Brexit Britain in shock move
The Reform UK leader highlighted that “a city the size of Birmingham, 1.2million people, is arriving every year.” Saying this was “mass immigration by any standard”, he added that previous Government policy had “reduced the salary thresholds and opened up the skilled worker criteria to some 800 job titles earning 20 percent less than the average salary.”
Migration to the UK from outside of the EU surged after Brexit, which experts attributed to Boris Johnson’s more liberal stance on immigration.
The former PM’s points-based immigration system lowered the salary and skill thresholds for anyone looking to work in the UK.
Most of the increase were made up of Indian, Pakistani, Nigerian and Filipino workers. There was a 25 percent increase in non-EU migrants in the last year than in 2019, according to the Home Office’s immigration figures, with 239,987 work-related visas granted.
Mr Sunak's focus remains on the Rwanda plan, which he says will discourage illegal migrants (Image: Getty)
However, Mr Sunak’s current focus appears to be on his Rwanda plan, which he claims will dissuade migrants travelling across the Channel in small boats to claim asylum in the UK.
The Home Office has been the target of criticism for its handling of large numbers of migrants claiming asylum in the UK, particularly surrounding the Manston processing centre.
Mr Tice wrote: “In 2014, some 87 percent of applications were decided upon within 6 months; now that figure is down to under 10 percent”.
He added: “If ministers and civil servants cared about fulfilling promises made to voters, this chaos would never have been allowed to mushroom into such a car crash,” and dismissed the Rwanda scheme as nothing more than a “side show”.
Don't miss...
David Cameron makes desperate plea to Tory MPs as Rishi faces Rwanda rebellion [REVEAL]
Robert Jenrick delivers brutal attack on Rishi Sunak’s Rwanda plan [INSIGHT]
Rishi Sunak fumes at Keir Starmer - ‘stop playing games' on Rwanda migrants plan [ANALYSIS]
Become an Express Premium member Support fearless journalism Read The Daily Express online, advert free Get super-fast page loading
Start 30-day
FREE trial
The plan, which on Tuesday passed its second reading in Parliament, was nearly shot down by rebel Conservative MPs who claim Mr Sunak has watered it down too far.
The UK Supreme Court ruled in November of this year that the initial version of the plan was unlawful due to the risk that asylum seekers sent to Rwanda could be returned to their home countries, where they could face harm - under a legal term named “refoulement”.
In response, the Government signed a new treaty with Rwanda with the aim of strengthening its asylum processes and getting around the Supreme Court’s concerns.
Home Secretary James Cleverley said the revised treaty guarantees that any people sent to Rwanda to claim asylum would not be at risk of refoulement.
Trending
But the cost of the scheme has also attracted criticism, with Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer saying of what he named a “policy they knew would never work” on Tuesday: “The charade continues. ￡290million of taxpayers’ money - your money - spent on an exercise, and a failed one at that, in Conservative Party management.
DON'T MISS
Powered by
The Conservative Party is in disarray, says Lord Blunkett
21 Comments
Keir Starmer accused of 'short-term positioning' and being weak on immigration in speech
272 Comments
Rishi Sunak tells warring Tories ‘my patience is wearing thin' over Rwanda backlash
1218 Comments
Brexiteer ERG's 'Star Chamber' delivers brutal verdict on Rishi Sunak's Rwanda Bill
442 Comments
Nigel Farage is back to strike the fear of God into the Tories
40 Comments
Rishi Sunak admits he could cave to Tory rebels' Rwanda ultimatum - but there is a catch
40 Comments
'Slippery' Home Office officials have 'misled' Rishi Sunak on small boats figures, says MP
386 Comments
Rishi Sunak hit by poll nightmare - and Nigel Farage could be about to make it much worse
1103 Comments
Nigel Farage hints at return to Tory party if Boris Johnson reaches out to him
441 Comments
'Insane' Tory rebels see Rwanda as 'vehicle to bring PM down', blast Rishi Sunak allies
135 Comments
UK earmarks ￡700m to manage small boat arrivals with plan to open two new 'facilities'
166 Comments
Robert Jenrick's brutal resignation letter in full as immigration minister quits
166 Comments
Suella Braverman slams Rishi Sunak's Rwanda Bill as it 'will not stop the boats'
85 Comments
Tom Pursglove: 'Time for talk is over - UK's patience on Rwanda is being tested'
30 Comments
Reform UK seeing 'surge' in support that carried anti-immigration Geert Wilders to power
227 Comments
Bad news for Rishi Sunak as enemies 'plot against him at posh Italian restaurant'
305 Comments
Sunak open to tougher Rwanda deportation laws amid backlash
85 Comments
Rwanda Bill cop-out is everything that is wrong with this spent Government - Carole Malone
21 Comments
Rwanda has power to send back any migrants it doesn't want in blow for Rishi Sunak
136 Comments
Rishi Sunak's best alternatives to Rwanda - and how feasible they would be to pull off
249 Comments
The Conservative Party is in disarray, says Lord Blunkett
21 Comments
Keir Starmer accused of 'short-term positioning' and being weak on immigration in speech
272 Comments
Rishi Sunak tells warring Tories ‘my patience is wearing thin' over Rwanda backlash
1218 Comments
Brexiteer ERG's 'Star Chamber' delivers brutal verdict on Rishi Sunak's Rwanda Bill
442 Comments
Nigel Farage is back to strike the fear of God into the Tories
40 Comments
Rishi Sunak admits he could cave to Tory rebels' Rwanda ultimatum - but there is a catch
40 Comments
'Slippery' Home Office officials have 'misled' Rishi Sunak on small boats figures, says MP
386 Comments
Rishi Sunak hit by poll nightmare - and Nigel Farage could be about to make it much worse
1103 Comments
Nigel Farage hints at return to Tory party if Boris Johnson reaches out to him
441 Comments
'Insane' Tory rebels see Rwanda as 'vehicle to bring PM down', blast Rishi Sunak allies
135 Comments
UK earmarks ￡700m to manage small boat arrivals with plan to open two new 'facilities'
166 Comments
Robert Jenrick's brutal resignation letter in full as immigration minister quits
166 Comments
Suella Braverman slams Rishi Sunak's Rwanda Bill as it 'will not stop the boats'
85 Comments
Tom Pursglove: 'Time for talk is over - UK's patience on Rwanda is being tested'
30 Comments
Reform UK seeing 'surge' in support that carried anti-immigration Geert Wilders to power
227 Comments
Bad news for Rishi Sunak as enemies 'plot against him at posh Italian restaurant'
305 Comments
Sunak open to tougher Rwanda deportation laws amid backlash
85 Comments
Rwanda Bill cop-out is everything that is wrong with this spent Government - Carole Malone
21 Comments
Rwanda has power to send back any migrants it doesn't want in blow for Rishi Sunak
136 Comments
Rishi Sunak's best alternatives to Rwanda - and how feasible they would be to pull off
249 Comments
The Conservative Party is in disarray, says Lord Blunkett
21 Comments
Keir Starmer accused of 'short-term positioning' and being weak on immigration in speech
272 Comments
Rishi Sunak tells warring Tories ‘my patience is wearing thin' over Rwanda backlash
1218 Comments
Brexiteer ERG's 'Star Chamber' delivers brutal verdict on Rishi Sunak's Rwanda Bill
442 Comments
Nigel Farage is back to strike the fear of God into the Tories
40 Comments
Rishi Sunak admits he could cave to Tory rebels' Rwanda ultimatum - but there is a catch
40 Comments
'Slippery' Home Office officials have 'misled' Rishi Sunak on small boats figures, says MP
386 Comments
“We’d have to pay for their hotels and upkeep and we’d have to accept refugees from Rwanda in exchange.”
While no asylum seekers have yet been sent to the African nation, Home secretary James Cleverly confirmed on Wednesday that the plan will have cost almost ￡400million by 2027.
Express.co.uk has contacted Mr Sunak for comment.
Related articles Lee Anderson says voters don’t 'give a toss' about Rishi Sunak's charisma Rishi Sunak heading for yet another by-election nightmare after MP suspension Poll: Would Nigel Farage make a better Prime Minister than Rishi Sunak? Rishi Sunak ‘of course’ open to Rwanda amendments, as Tory MPs make demands Fury as evil people smugglers switch to even cheaper and worse Channel dinghies