John Curtice on Andrew Marr: Rwanda is the "last card" Sunak can play against Labour

The government’s Rwanda deportation plan is the “last substantial card” the prime minister has left to play against the Labour Party ahead of the next general election, a polling expert has said.
Polling guru professor Sir John Curtice was reacting this morning to the passage of the Safety of Rwanda (Asylum and Immigration) Bill last night, which enables the full scheme.
The plan seeks to deport asylum seekers arriving in the UK via small boats to the African nation.
Sir John was asked how important a moment the legislation’s passage could be electorally for the Conservatives.

[@jasoncooper9391]

Never ever Trust the Tories

[@barrywest2170]

Correct jason never trust the nasty party

[@audreymcgready4329]

I never have. And i never would.

[@barrywest2170]

@@audreymcgready4329 Well said Audrey totally agree 👏🏿👏🏼👏🏻

[@lloydnaylor6113]

Perhaps you all returned your furlough payments back to the wicked tories 😂

[@barrywest2170]

@@lloydnaylor6113 Never had any But a lot of the tories families did well out of covid contracts and most of the stuff they provided wasn’t fit for purpose

[@lily_m3538]

Given the extortionate cost and nothing has happened in 14 years, why would anyone believe Sunak.

[@danstobbart4406]

£500 million for nothing !!🤔

[@StevieSpiers-ru3mf]

INFOSYS probably scored some big contracts over there, though.

[@davidwhite8045]

I recently watched a KZbin video where a reporter went to France to talk to migrants around a camp, he asked a young man who spoke English how he felt about the Rwanda threat if he was caught and it was obvious he had never heard of the plan

[@essealants3730]

Same interview they asked another young man if it was putting him off his reply was interesting as in he said no not if i can still get educated fhere.

[@amayastrata4629]

Well not much space left for the people in Rwanda now as that government has sold off most of the allocated housing for them. The immigrants needn’t worry too much.

[@paulbird3235]

At £1.8m a pop, this won't last as long as Liz Truss's budget. If they think this will stop the boats they are sadly DELUDED. ✈✈✈.............

[@Stigtoes]

Before embarking on the Rwanda policy, don't you think that the government might have done some polling with the 161,000 asylum seekers already here to see whether such a policy would have deterred them from making the journey? Perhaps the reason that they haven't is because they know the answer but they'd rather the public talked about that, than how they've trashed the country.

[@kevinmcguire1049]

People who get in boats and risk their lives do this because they are desperate. Sunak should completely understands desperation - just look at his Rwanda policy! If the boats keep on coming over the summer he's failed. 'No if's, no buts' that statement will comeback to haunt him.

[@buzzukfiftythree]

People are far more concerned about potholes in the roads that they are about Rwanda.

[@midlandgeordie]

It won’t work!!

[@philthrelfall5294]

It is very, very sad that the public appear divided over the Rwanda scheme (according to Curtice's polling). The Rwanda scheme is obviously an expensive dead duck and yet half those polled would appear to think it has some merit!! So, either that 50% are very dim, or just rather susceptible to the Tory propaganda!?!

[@buzzukfiftythree]

Many, to be honest, don't understand the issue. They perceive it from a fairly superficial level. We give the electorate far too much credit that they simply don't deserve.

[@ColinBarrett001]

'Rwanda is the "last card" Sunak can play against Labour'... and unfortunately it's the two of clubs... You lose, Sunak.

[@wanderingfool6312]

It’s not really a card against Labour as much as self harm.

[@richmaniow]

One of the glorious ironies is that the £millions being given by Britain to Rwanda is now being used to build a new international airport and it's now estimated that for every refugee we send to Kigali, a 1000 Rwandans will be flying in the other direction to the UK..

[@TerriObrien-mi5rx]

The cost is extortionate 🤡🤡🤡👿

[@desmneylon]

It’s a distraction from the real problems I.e. cost of living, NHS waiting lists, housing crisis, interest rates, trade barriers, high taxation etc etc

[@dianeirvine7624]

Rwanda will never happen and it will Be blamed on labour ,

[@davidjupp961]

Only by cretins who believe the garbage spouted by proven liars , more fool them

[@jackn4853]

That's what Sunak's plan is. The right wing media will blame Labour for holding up the Bill in the Commons/Lords for years.

[@karmadyllic]

Nah. It'll never happen but it'll stain the Tories for a decade and more.

[@judithdavidson2356]

Surely people are more concerned about so called legal migration as that’s the real issue. There is no such thing as illegal asylum seeking despite the claims of this appalling government.

He'd be better off playing the two of Spades, the only card he holds.

[@peterspowage5752]

He's obviously using those spades to deepen the hole.

[@brianthornton4991]

It's over for Sunak.

[@geeksworkshop]

At the cost even if it worked it's unworkable. Like Brexit

[@lloydnaylor6113]

Explain how brexit hasn't worked. The UK has overtook France to become a bigger manufacturing economy and shot up the league table to become the worlds 4th biggest exporter. Its announced plans for a massive increase in defence expenditure to maintain its position as the largest defence spender in Europe.

[@TheAdbeckers]

Yeah all 200 of them per year, wow what a difference that will make to the 800,000 here now. And that took 2 years of pompous quarrelling. Oh and don't forget they get legal aid over there to fight being over there......lol. I can no longer see the difference differentiating between a Micky Mouse movie and the British leadership, both on an equal footing.

[@user-wn3cm6jf8e]

No one is the least bit interested.

[@jeffsmith3392]

The last cards in the Tories hopes are BOE interest rate cuts for mortgage holders. But the Tories can’t play them at their whim.

[@paulhoughton5266]

John Currice the man with his fingers on the pulse

[@nicks4934]

19% 😂 yes its working. For Labour🎉

[@SlowhandGreg]

Rwanda the last card? Gotta be a Joker to go with the clown car circus there running What car does Rhishi Sunak drive A Ford Fiasco

[@lloydnaylor6113]

Of course Sir Max Headroom will stop the boats😂even better if he's leading a coalition of chaos with Mr Ed, the green loons and SNP ( providing its leader is not in jail).

[@nicks4934]

John on double bubble from now on!

[@AB-zl4nh]

> A 1% wealth tax on £10+ multimillionaires = £22+ billion < That's enough to invest £2,000 PER child PER year. The average family would be £4,000 richer PER year. If you invested that for each child, you would've gotten £40,000+ on your 18th birthday.

[@lloydnaylor6113]

Not sure about your maths but the top 1% pay 30% of all income tax. The French tried this and the rich fled incidentally to London . In the 1970s the rich fled the UK because of horrendous tax rates , tax the rich til the pips squeak as Healey said.

[@annepoitrineau5650]

@@lloydnaylor6113 Very few rich French people actually fled to London. It was hyped, but amounted to little. It was stopped, not because it was a failure, but as a nod from the government to ingratiate itself to the rich, then some propaganda was applied to it to sell it to the masses ("it is not that efficient...etc"). Do your research. But it is also true, that it does not quite bring as much money as one thinks, however, better than nothing. What if 1% pay 30% of all taxes? If a guy with 5 millions/year must pay 60%, s/he still has 2 millions to play with. Should I cry about it|? Are you kidding??? However, one could discuss arrangements such as investing in (real) social projects, so they might make a bit more money (Lordy lordy, why, but still) while helping the government. But not Baroness Mone type projects.

[@lloydnaylor6113]

@annepoitrineau5650 the guy on £5 million you are on about will move abroad if his taxes go too high as happened in the 70s with pop stars notably moving. So less tax!

[@ColinBarrett001]

@@lloydnaylor6113 Why do we care if the billionaire owners of the Tory party move abroad? They're all already nom-doms effectively paying no UK tax anyway. Tax them on the retail sales of their Chinese made products in the UK not on their personal income. Yes that will add to inflation, but it will also incentivise investment in UK manufacturing.

[@handarokadath1515]

​@@lloydnaylor6113You're right, there is no solution to the inequality now prevalent in the UK.

[@juliegreen640]

Well Rewanda is costing you more money now...Sunaks sending our Civil Servants over there to process the migrants we send in... He wants volunteers in the Civil service within a month to go.....I think the tax payer is very generous in this country!! We pay loads and they cant even process them when they get there....I really hope there a safe Country!! For goodness sake Sunak call a General Election...we have had enough!!! NO MORE!!!

[@mindless-pedant]

Who undertakes and pays for all these polls Prof. Curtice analyses?

[@nicks4934]

Yougov is a good poll

[@Billywoo12]

Good news, it worked for Australia.

[@nicks4934]

It worked for Sunak? 😂

[@karmadyllic]

It'll be fascinating to see which airlines will get involved and also to discover said airlines' ties to the Tories.

[@kevinwalton4538]

4 “ commercial aircraft” are owned by a subsidiary of the MoD . They are used for ferrying defence staff to the Falklands, NATO etc.

[@johnwright7895]

Marr the has been.Never lived in a slum in his life.Neither will these illegal immigrants,but British people will.Mentally ill,veterans,disabled and homeless.He is so righteous. LBC brigade.shortly ,shortly ,shortly.😢.....

[@ColinBarrett001]

What on earth are you babbling about?

[@nicks4934]

😂

[@kevinu.k.7042]

Breaking news - The authorities have started rounding up asylum seekers and taking them to one of the converted bases ready for state abduction to Rwanda. They are going to start the flights on Thursday, whilst the local elections are taking place. See The Guardian.

[@cathoderaymission6352]

someone at UKCE *needs* to have a look at your audio quality jesus

[@MZig-rw7su]

Look how badly dyed Marr's hair is. Mid Brown Hair Dye. How unsophisticated and he's not even aware.

[@annepoitrineau5650]

What's that got to do with anything??? You are not watching Britain's Next Top Model.

[@Lynn.hot.legs.peters]

500 million to Rowanda or 5 million hospital appointments. You choose on May 2nd

[@WebToolkit]

Not that may the second is going to be a general election of course. We will still have the conservatives in power after it. Of course it may not be Sunak.

[@lloydnaylor6113]

Hospital appointments for the illegal migrants?

[@juliegreen640]

​@@WebToolkitThe result of 2nd May tells us how the General Election will be....that's why they want as many to vote as possible.....God help us if Conservative get in again!! Our lives wont be worth living.....

[@SelvaduraiSounthararajah]

Yes he can play the cards against the labour party But when he gone when the labour party comes to power.they will send planes to Rwanda and get the immigrants back and put them in the four star hotels It will be a holiday for the immigrants They need the holiday as well With our tax money

[@graemehancocks4171]

And how much has Rwanda cost us taxpayers so far - and not a single asylum seeker deported? 1/2 billion £ when I last looked. It is just a tory gimmick to get some good headlines in the Mail and Express. Time to vote these SOB’s out.

[@SelvaduraiSounthararajah]

@@graemehancocks4171 If they don't play gimmicks And stop the boats people It is going to cost lots more than that In the long run.they tried lots of different ways but labour party international laws and human rights and democracy didn't let them do it Lets all the illegal immigrants in our country And to look after them Britain is going to third world country soon I came here 45 years from a third world country.i had a good run.now my country getting better than here I am going back

[@nigelsynnott7344]

@@SelvaduraiSounthararajah Except that they are not illegal immigrants provided they claim asylum on arrival. Only if their claims are denied may they then become illegal migrants - and only a small minority of claims are denied. The vast majority are therefore genuine refugees, not illegal migrants. Now, you were saying....

[@nickharvey7233]

​@@graemehancocks4171you're replying to a five day old YT account. Highly suspect it is a sh*t-stirring bot - I doubt that an immigrant would ever refer to 'third world' countries as their origin. Maybe I'm wrong, but even if I am, what they are saying is utter tosh.

[@annepoitrineau5650]

That's witty, sadly it won't happen.