BBC Question Time viewers cringe as Tory asks ‘are Rwanda and Congo totally different?’ | Politics | News | EUROtoday

Question Time viewers have been left cringing as a clumsy blunder noticed Tory minister Chris Philp asking if Rwanda and Congo are two totally different nations.

The policing minister was showing on the favored politics present to debate the Conservative Party’s plan to ship asylum seekers to Rwanda as they give the impression of being to cease the boats crossing the channel.

The viewers have been seen gasping and laughing as Philp repeated the awkward gaff in entrance of the cameras.

The digicam quickly switched to fellow panelist Shadow Secretary for Health and Social Care Wes Streeting who checked out Philp with wide-eyed disbelief.

An viewers member quizzed whether or not folks coming from Congo – a rustic that has battle with Rwanda – can be despatched to its African neighbour.

Speaking on the programme, Philp mentioned: “Well Rwanda is a different country from Congo isn’t it?”

The battle within the Democratic Republic of Congo has seen 1000’s of individuals flee their houses.

An viewers member in Tottenham addressed Philp, saying: “I come from a neighbouring country called Congo, if you know geographically that it is located right next door to Rwanda.

“And proper now in Goma there is a genocide occurring and there is such an enormous battle occurring with folks from Rwanda.

“So had my family members come from Goma on a crossing right now would they be sent back to the country that they’re supposedly warring, Rwanda? Does that make sense to you?”

The minister replied: “I think there’s an exclusion on people from Rwanda being sent to Rwanda.”

To which the viewers member mentioned: “They’re not from Rwanda, they’re from Congo. And they’re supposedly warring these people with Rwanda. So are they going to be sent to Rwanda if they come here on a crossing?”

A flustered Philp mentioned: “From Congo? well… Rwanda is a different country from Congo isn’t it?”

Philp clarified there was a “safety mechanism” within the Rwanda plan meaning folks wouldn’t be despatched to the nation in the event that they confronted “serious and irreversable harm”.

Liberal Democrat MP Sarah Olney tweeted a clip from the published and mentioned: “This is not a serious government.”

Philp has been Minister for Crime, Policing and Fire, since 2022.

He beforehand served as Paymaster General and Minister for the Cabinet Office, Chief Secretary to the Treasury and Parliamentary Under Secretary of State on the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport.