Priti Patel pulls out of being questioned over Rwanda plan citing 'recent changes in government

Priti Patel pulls out of being questioned over Rwanda plan citing 'recent changes in government
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Jamie  Micklethwaite

By Jamie Micklethwaite


Published: 13/07/2022

- 10:31

Updated: 13/07/2022

- 10:32

The Home Secretary was due to answer questions on Home Office policies this morning

Home Secretary Priti Patel has pulled out of being questioned by MPs over the plan to send migrants to Rwanda, public confidence in policing and other Home Office polices.

The Commons Home Affairs Committee was due to quiz Ms Patel on Wednesday morning but she cancelled her attendance late on Tuesday afternoon.


SNP committee member Stuart McDonald said on Twitter that Ms Patel sent an email shortly before 5pm to cancel because of “recent changes in government”.

ONE EDITORIAL USE ONLY. NO SALES. NO ARCHIVING. NO ALTERING OR MANIPULATING. NO USE ON SOCIAL MEDIA UNLESS AGREED BY HOC PHOTOGRAPHY SERVICE. MANDATORY CREDIT: UK Parliament/Jessica Taylor Handout photo issued by UK Parliament of the Home Secretary Priti Patel making a statement to MPs in the House of Commons, London, on the Rwanda asylum plan. Picture date: Wednesday June 15, 2022.
Priti Patel
UK Parliament/Jessica Taylor

She was due to attend alongside her permanent and second permanent secretaries Matthew Rycroft and Tricia Hayes.

The committee said in a tweet: “This morning at 10.00am we were due to be questioning the Home Secretary, Priti Patel. She has declined to attend our session.”

Shadow home secretary Yvette Cooper accused the Government of being in “total chaos” and asked: “What on Earth is going on?

“Why has Priti Patel refused at the last minute to go to the Commons Home Affairs Committee so MPs can ask her about passport delays, asylum delays, rising crime, falling prosecutions, record low rape charges, record high fraud and more?”

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