Priti Patel REFUSES to attend rare grilling of MPs on her plan for Rwanda

The Home Secretary says 'recent changes in government' have stopped her from grilling by the Home Affairs Committee - but a source fumed that it was "a pile of garbage." There's no reason she can't come'

Home Secretary Priti Patel has decided not to run for leader (

Image: PA)

Priti Patel enraged MPs today after refusing to attend a rare discussion of her work and controversial policies - such as the deportation of migrants to Rwanda.

The Home Secretary boycotted a Home Affairs Committee hearing in Parliament just hours from the end - after his bid to run for the Tory leadership failed.

MPs would likely have asked him to confirm reports that no deportation flights will leave for Rwanda until September at the earliest.

Ms Patel withdrew from the 10am appearance – scheduled for April – at around 4.40pm on Tuesday.

In a letter, she said, "The Committee will be aware of recent changes in government, and in particular the ministerial team in my department.

"Unfortunately, due to this and the unprecedented changes since I agreed to testify, I will not be able to meet with the Committee tomorrow."

But a source close to the committee fumed, "Her letter is basically a bunch of garbage. There's no reason she can't come.

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"She's been in the job for several years. It had nothing to do with her former ministers - it was just her and the permanent secretary."

The committee has asked Ms. Patel to appear next week.

But she tries to meet them in September; at that time, she may have been fired by a new leader, so she wouldn't have to attend.

The source said, "We will have lost the opportunity to question him on key issues such as Rwandan politics if he is overhauled in September."

In a letter to Ms Patel, Chairman Dame Diana Johnson said: "It is extremely disappointing to learn - at twenty to five the day before your scheduled appearance before the Home Affairs Select Committee on the morning of 13 July 2022 - that you will no longer testify.

"We were made to understand that, despite the Prime Minister's resignation last week, we still have a functioning government."

Dame Diana pointed out that Ms Patel specifically remained in her post because she needed to be 'fully focused' on national security.

She told the Tory minister: 'We would therefore like to ask why, a week later, you now think it is acceptable to avoid a key part of the role - facing much needed scrutiny of this essential work .

“The ‘business of government’ absolutely requires careful scrutiny by Parliament.”

A Home Office spokesperson told The Times: 'The Home Secretary will appear at a later date, to be agreed with the committee.

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