In a surprising move, Robert Jenrick has tendered his resignation as the immigration minister, expressing his dissatisfaction with the government's emergency legislation on Rwanda. Jenrick stated that the proposed bill did not provide adequate protections and fell short of addressing the legal challenges associated with the scheme.

The government had introduced the legislation to establish Rwanda as a safe country for asylum seekers under UK law. However, some members of the Conservative Party right-wing faction deemed the bill insufficient. Jenrick, in his resignation letter to the Prime Minister, acknowledged that there had been some movement in aligning their positions but emphasized his belief that the current legislation did not offer the best chance of success.

Jenrick also referred to the bill as "a triumph of hope over experience." The scheme, designed to discourage people from using small boats to cross the English Channel, has been plagued by delayed legal challenges, with no asylum seekers sent to Rwanda from the UK thus far.

The former immigration minister insisted that the emergency legislation represented the "last opportunity" to demonstrate the government's commitment to curbing small boat crossings. Nevertheless, he maintained that the proposed bill did not go far enough in tackling the issue.

Jenrick asserted, "I refuse to be yet another politician who makes promises on immigration to the British public but does not keep them." His resignation comes amidst criticism from Labour's shadow home secretary Yvette Cooper, who pointed to the disarray within the Tory party and questioned the efficacy of Rishi Sunak's leadership.

Reports of Jenrick's resignation circulated after the government released the draft bill, which aimed to address concerns raised by the Supreme Court. The court had recently ruled against plans to send asylum seekers to Rwanda, deeming them unlawful. The legislation, subject to a parliamentary vote, contains provisions overriding sections of the Human Rights Act to circumvent the Supreme Court's ruling.

Furthermore, the bill directs the courts to disregard other British laws and international rules, including the international Refugee Convention, that impede deportations to Rwanda. However, it falls short of the demands made by some Conservative MPs.

In his resignation letter, Jenrick refrained from personally criticizing the Prime Minister. He acknowledged Boris Johnson's efforts to stabilize the country and praised his leadership on the world stage. Jenrick affirmed his continued support for Johnson while sitting on the backbenches.

The bill aims to enable the government's plan to transport asylum seekers to Rwanda. Former Home Secretary Priti Patel has emphasized the necessity of legislation that blocks all legal challenges to facilitate the initiation of flights. The issue of illegal migration into the UK has become a pressing concern, prompting a new migration treaty between the government and Rwanda.

Rishi Sunak, defending the Rwanda deal, pledged to do "everything it takes" to ensure the success of the scheme. The resignation of Robert Jenrick, however, underscores the challenges faced by the government in effectively addressing the issue of small boat crossings and securing legal frameworks for the proposed scheme.