A Labour normal election candidate has been accused of “astonishing hypocrisy” after he attacked Rishi Sunak’s Rwanda plan regardless of beforehand working for the African nation’s authorities.
Blair McDougall, who’s standing for Labour in East Renfrewshire, has referred to as plans to ship migrants from Britain to Rwanda “inhumane” and has additionally highlighted criticism of the nation’s therapy of refugees being held in camps.
However, it emerged that Mr McDougall, a outstanding determine in Scottish Labour who performed a key position within the unionist marketing campaign within the independence referendum, had personally lived within the nation and suggested the Rwandan authorities.
He labored within the workplace of Rwandan president Paul Kagame as an “adviser on governance and strategic communications” as a part of an initiative led by Tony Blair between September 2009 and July 2010.
A spokesman for the Scottish Conservatives mentioned: “The astonishing hypocrisy from this senior Scottish Labour candidate is clear for all to see.
“Blair McDougall has relentlessly attacked the UK government’s Rwanda scheme, yet was happy to live in the country as well as work for – and possibly be paid by – the Rwandan government in a previous job.
“His double standards will raise eyebrows among voters.”
Controversial determine
Mr Kagame, who has been the de-facto chief of Rwanda because the finish of the nation’s genocide in 1994 and has been president since 2000, is a controversial determine.
His admirers have claimed he’s a visionary African chief who has been behind exceptional financial progress within the nation, however his critics declare he’s a despot who tramples on human rights and tolerates no criticism.
Mr McDougall, a former Labour particular adviser, labored with Mr Kagame as a part of the Tony Blair Africa Governance Initiative. Mr Blair has additionally acted as an adviser to Mr Kagame.
According to an internet biography, Mr McDougall “lived and worked in Rwanda as a governance adviser in the office of the president”.
The Prime Minister’s flagship plan to ship some asylum seekers to Rwanda is a key a part of his pledge to “stop the boats” and deter unlawful immigration to Britain.
It has been stalled by authorized challenges, however laws declaring Rwanda a protected nation has been issued to revive the plan. Ministers have insisted that flights to the nation can nonetheless take off by spring.
Mr Kagame steered final month that he might return the £240 million Britain has paid to his nation if no migrants arrive. He mentioned there have been “limits” to how lengthy wrangling might proceed and “for how long this can drag on”.
‘Excessive force’
Mr McDougall wrote on X, previously Twitter, final October that Labour was dedicated to “ending the inhumane Rwanda deportation policy”.
He has additionally criticised the Rwandan authorities’s dealing with of protests in refugee camps, highlighting a UK authorities evaluation that mentioned authorities had been responsible of “reportedly using excessive force in some instances”.
The East Renfrewshire constituency is seen as a three-way combat between the SNP, which at present holds the seat, Labour and the Tories.
Mr McDougall mentioned: “I know the Tories are desperate because their vote has collapsed in East Renfrewshire but they should do basic research before slinging mud.
“I worked for a charity working to improve the development and governance of Rwanda. I’m not surprised nobody in the Tory party was willing to put their name to this desperate attack.”
