RISHI Sunak says the Rwanda plan is working as migrants flee to Ireland to escape deportation.
Illegal migrants are now “worried” about coming to the UK, the Prime Minister said.
It comes after deputy Irish premier Micheal Martin claimed the UK’s Rwanda plan is causing an influx of migrants to the Republic.
Mr Sunak said it shows his flagship plan to stop the boats is “already having an impact”.
He told Sunday Morning with Trevor Phillips on Sky News: “The deterrent is…already having an impact because people are worried about coming here and that demonstrates exactly what I’m saying.
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“If people come to our country illegally, but know that they won’t be able to stay, they’re much less likely to come, and that’s why the Rwanda scheme is so important.”
The PM has had a good week after emergency legislation to get flights off the ground finally passed through parliament.
And the first flights to Kigali are expected in the next couple of months.
Illegal immigrants have already received letters warning them they could be deported to Rwanda.
Enforcement raids are due this week on those earmarked for deportation, Home Office sources say.
But Tory MPs issued a warning to meddling Strasbourg judges who blocked the first attempted flight to Rwanda two years ago.
Tom Hunt, MP for Ipswich, said: “The Prime Minister is right, we can already see the Rwanda plan is working.
“Despite what Labour says this is exactly what the British people want.
“If foreign courts like the ECHR attempt to block it then we must consider leaving.”
And even the One Nation wets have warned the European Court of Human Rights must not try to block flights.
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Former cabinet minister Damian Green said: “These are early but encouraging signs that the deterrent is working.
“If the ECHR tries to stop flights, Britain should lead the way in modernising and reforming it.”
The PM recently told The Sun Britain will quit the ECHR if that is what it takes to stop small boats.
Other countries are now closely watching the landmark Rwanda scheme as they battle with their own migrant crises.
The PM could even call a snap election in July once first flights are called in a bid to capitalise on a boost.
It comes as Tory big beast Robert Jenrick demands Parliament is given a vote on annual cap on migrants.
A report by the former immigration minister is due to be published after the local elections and will show migration is now 100 times higher than before New Labour.
