Friday 24 June 2022 01:00 AM Tory MP Andrea Jenkyn tells Charles to 'keep his oar out' of politics after ... trends now
The Prince of Wales was told to 'keep his oar out' of politics today as the Tories intensified their attacks on the heir to the throne over his opposition to its Rwanda migrant programme.
Ahead of a meeting between Charles and Boris Johnson in Kigali today the backbencher suggested the future king emulate his mother the Queen and keep a dignified silence.
It came as the Prime Minister urged Charles to keep an 'open mind' about the Rwanda asylum plan.
The Prime Minister said he was ready to defend his £120million policy after Charles was reported to have privately criticised it as 'appalling'.
Clarence House is understood to be unhappy that public debate over Charles's remarks about Britain's policy of removing asylum seekers to Rwanda is overshadowing his well-received trip to the East African nation.
Speaking to LBC radio from a by-election in Wakefield today Ms Jenkyns said: 'He certainly needs to learn a lot from our fantastic Queen and keep his oar out, most definitely.'
Ahead of a meeting between Charles and Boris Johnson in Kigali today Ms Jenkyns suggested the future king emulate his mother the Queen and keep a dignified silence.
It came as the Prime Minister urged Charles to keep an 'open mind' about the Rwanda asylum plan.
Clarence House is understood to be unhappy that public debate over Charles's remarks about Britain's policy of removing asylum seekers to Rwanda is overshadowing his well-received trip to the East African nation.
The prince and Mr Johnson are in Rwanda for the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM). Mr Johnson suggested yesterday he would make a point about the migration policy's 'obvious merits' when he met Charles over a cup of tea this morning.
He said: 'I am delighted that Prince Charles and everybody is here today to see a country that has undergone a complete, or a very substantial transformation.'
Mr Johnson told ITV: 'People need to keep an open mind about the (Rwanda) policy, the critics need to keep an open mind about the policy. A lot of people can see its obvious merits. So yeah, of course, if I am seeing the prince tomorrow, I am going to be making that point.'
It was revealed earlier this month that Charles had been overheard describing the Rwanda scheme as 'appalling'. Last week Mr Johnson dismissed criticism of the policy from 'slightly unexpected quarters' in an apparent dig at the prince and Church of England bishops, who attacked it as 'immoral'.
The three topics on the agenda
