I've spent a lot of time in Rwanda and the organisation I work for has an office there.

It's a beautiful country with lovely people.

While the government takes two steps forwards with regards to infrastructure (social and transport etc), they take a giant leap backwards with regards to human rights, freedoms , democracy etc. its a very controlling and toxic environment.

I know people who have been taken by the Rwandan authorities and treated appallingly. I can't elaborate here.

The last time Rwanda accepted asylum seekers from other countries it was a disaster with many of the asylum seekers being mistreated. When they escaped, they were killed.

It is not an African utopia.


As for pipsters questions:

What would you do with the ones already here -
things like :

1. Where would you house them ? - firstly we need to process them quickly to make sure they are not staying in poor conditions paid for (over paid for) by the the public purse. Get them into work and filling the huge shortages we have. They can then pay rent and contribute in taxes. (some people wait 4 (FOUR) years before their claim is accepted or rejected). In terms of housing - this is a bigger issue and i am so disappointed with both main political parties for under investing in homes and also allowing landlords and corporations (many foreign) to buy up properties which could be available. Londongrad explains how so many properties in London are bought by foreign companies or oligarchs and remain empty. With the money allocated to sending people to Rwanda, that could easily be used to make 10000's of empty properties available and fix up the so many dilapidated properties in our cities.

2. Would they have priority over existing people on Council house waiting lists ?

See above - no they wouldn't and nor should they... get them into work and let them rent or buy like most others - with the caveat that local authorities get funding from central government to renovate available houses and make them available to everyone.

3. Would you allow them to work ?

Yes - why on earth would anyone NOT want them to work? That is mental. Work, pay tax, pay NI, fill the workforce shortages and save us a ton of money to house them for years while we process their claims... a no brainer.

4. Would you allow them to claim benefits ?

Allow them to work and let them be a full part of the system - paying TAX and NI and if they do fall out of work, then yes they should be able to claim benefits if they are legally allowed to work and live here.

5. Would you offer them safe passage to another country ?

If they wanted it and if they had links to another country... yes. Perhaps we could join some kind of union with our neighbours and negotiate a deal where we share the refugee /asylum population