‘Cloak and dagger tactics’: Tories paid Rwanda an extra £100m for asylum deal

Rishi Sunak told journalists at a press conference in Downing Street this week that he would ‘finish the job’ of his Rwanda deportation plan. Photograph: Andy Rain/EPA

UK ministers have been accused of using “cloak and dagger” tactics after a leading civil servant revealed in a letter that they had paid Rwanda a further £100m to send asylum seekers there.

Sir Matthew Rycroft, the Home Office’s top civil servant, told MPs the payment was made in April after £140m had already been sent. He added that a further payment of £50m was expected next year.