The cost of the UK Government’s plan to fly asylum seekers to Rwanda has risen from £150 million to £290 million, even though no flights have left yet. It’s causing arguments between the main political parties as well as within the Conservative Party. Critics call the plan a waste of money because, under the plan, Rwanda can only take 200 people each year. However, the Government says it’s important to limit the numbers coming to the UK.
Oracy
The plan to send asylum seekers to Rwanda has been a real headache for the government. But wasn’t it a silly idea in the first place? Isn’t it a hugely expensive way to deal with only a small fraction of the overall problem? If you have to change the law to make something legal, doesn’t that give you a big clue about how moral it is? Or, is it important to do something to stop the boats making the dangerous crossing of the English Channel? If the existing method isn’t working, shouldn’t we be trying something else? Won’t it make people think twice about coming here if they think they’re going to be sent somewhere else? What do you think?
Writing skills
Imagine Rishi Sunak as a young boy being asked to tidy up his bedroom because he keeps getting more and more toys. Write a short dialogue between him and his parents as he tries to explain that he wants to tidy up by getting them to pay lots of money for him to post all his toys to a different country. Remember to use the features of a playscript.
Or
Many of the people who desperately try to reach the UK on these small boats pay lots of money to criminal gangs who really don’t care if the asylum seekers survive the dangerous crossing. Write a letter to the gang leaders, trying to persuade them to stop what they’re doing. Could you suggest something they could do instead to make money in a way that doesn’t risk people’s lives? Use the features of an informal letter but use your most persuasive language.
Investigate
What is the difference between an asylum seeker and an economic migrant? Write a brief definition of each.
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