Jenrick cites ‘strong disagreements’ with direction of policy, after legislation did not seek to allow overriding of international law

Robert Jenrick quits as immigration minister after Rwanda bill published

Jenrick cites ‘strong disagreements’ with direction of policy, after legislation did not seek to allow overriding of international law

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Rajeev Syal Wed 6 Dec 2023 19.47 GMT First published on Wed 6 Dec 2023 19.05 GMT

The immigration minister, Robert Jenrick, has quit, just hours after the prime minister tabled a bill to save the Rwanda deportation policy.

Jenrick stood down after the legislation did not allow ministers to override international laws which have stopped the government from sending asylum seekers to central Africa.

His resignation will be seen as a move to position himself as the head of a growing rightwing rebellion aimed at ensuring that the UK can act unilaterally and send flights to Kigali.