Immigration row will test UK-Irish relations

Significance

An emergency meeting between UK Home Secretary James Cleverly and Irish Justice Minister Helen McEntee to address the issue has been cancelled. Ireland wants to return the migrants to the United Kingdom, an idea that has been strongly rejected by London.

Impacts

• Evidence thus far suggests the Rwanda policy will fail to reduce significantly the number of migrants coming to the United Kingdom.
• Should the Labour Party win the next UK election, it is likely to abandon the Rwanda policy.
• Immigration could damage Sinn Fein’s prospects of leading the next Irish government.