The Tory minister admits the Rwanda migrant plan will have only a marginal impact

Plans to send migrants to Rwanda will have only a “marginal” benefit, a government minister admitted.

The scheme has been mired in legal challenges and so far there have been no flights carrying migrants African the nation is gone.

Ministry of Foreign Affairs minister Andrew Mitchell said the scheme was not “the whole answer”.

He also rejected the idea that the UK could withdraw from the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR) over plans to tackle the problem of small boats ferrying migrants across the English Channel.

On channel 4 The Andrew Neil ShowMr Mitchell – who has been critical of the Rwandan scheme as a backbench aide – said if there was “any” benefit it would not be “the whole effort we have to put in”.

“It will be a marginal benefit. What we need to do is stop these boats and there are a number of other mechanisms that could be used to do that,” he said.

The scheme was “worth exploring” but “definitely not a complete answer”, he said.

Despite the speculation in Westminster, Mr Mitchell said the idea of ​​leaving the ECtHR was not being seriously considered.

Intervention from the side European Court of Human Rightswhich adjudicates ECtHR cases, effectively landed the first scheduled flight under the Partnership Agreement in Rwanda last year.

Some in the Tory party – including Home Secretary Suella Braverman – have argued for leaving the ECHR to make it easier to send migrants abroad.

But Mr Mitchell said: “The suggestion that we should leave the ECHR has not been considered by the government and is unlikely to be considered in my view.”