First Rwanda flight in June
Dozy minister lets slip Africa trips schedule
A BUNGLING minister has let slip the date for the first deportation flight to Rwanda by leaving documents lying around in Downing Street.
Rishi Sunak announced at a press conference that commercial charter planes were booked and an airfield was on standby for the first flight to leave in 10 to 12 weeks.
It suggested the scheme would begin in July, but after the press conference, a Tory minister inadvertently left a briefing document showing the actual plan was for the flights to begin earlier.
It stated: “The first charter flight to Rwanda is provisionally scheduled for June (please protect).”
Ministers who attended the event were Deputy Foreign Secretary Andrew Mitchell, Immigration Minister Michael Tomlinson, Home Secretary James Cleverly, Defence Secretary Grant Shapps and Attorney General Victoria Prentis.
Last night, MPs and Lords were locked in a bitter clash over the controversial Safety of Rwanda Bill.
Tories rejected a call by peers for Afghans who helped UK forces fight the Taliban to be legally exempted from being sent to Rwanda.
Labour branded the choice shameful, with Shadow Immigration Minister Stephen Kinnock telling the Commons: “We owe a debt of gratitude to the Afghans who stood shoulder-toshoulder with our troops.
“And yet this Government is seeking to try to trash our reputation as a country that honours its debts. What a disgrace.”
Just one Tory MP, former Justice Secretary Robert Buckland, rebelled to support a Lords amendment calling for the protection, amid fears soldiers and interpreters who supported the British military could be forced on to planes.
MPs also rejected calls by peers for an independent monitoring body to rule Rwanda is safe before asylum seekers are sent there.
The PM said that planes would take off “come what may”. He said: “No ifs, no buts. These flights are going to Rwanda.” He said there would be several flights per month.
United Nations experts yesterday warned that airlines involved in the Rwanda project could be held responsible for any breaches of international human rights law.
Defending the scheme, Deputy Foreign Secretary Mr Mitchell claimed Kigali, the capital of Rwanda, was safer than London.
Mr Mitchell said peers’ discussions on the scheme were patronising and bordered on racism.