MPS are urged to ‘unite behind’ the Rwanda Bill
RISHI Sunak is braced for a fresh round of parliamentary wrangling over his Bill to save the Government’s stalled Rwanda deportation scheme, as MPS and peers returned to Westminster.
The legislation is high on the agenda after a minister insisted flights carrying asylum seekers to Kigali should be taking off “within weeks”.
It comes as Sunday became the busiest day yet for Channel crossings so far this year after more than 500 migrants arrived in the UK in a single day. It means some 6,000 people have made the journey in 2024 to date, with more than 75,000 arrivals recorded two years on from the Rwanda deal being signed.
Downing Street urged parliamentarians to “unite behind” the Rwanda Bill, which it suggested should pass unamended.
Asked for the Prime Minister’s Sunak’s message to the House of Lords, his spokesman said: “This week Parliament has the opportunity to pass a Bill that will save the lives of those being exploited by people-smuggling gangs.
“It is clear that we cannot continue with the status quo which is unfair and uncompassionate. Now is the time to change the equation against gangs and unite behind the Bill.”
Pressed on whether ministers will make concessions on Lords amendments, the official said: “We’ve always been clear that the Bill as previously passed by the House of Commons is the right Bill to get flights off the ground.”
MPS will consider amendments to the Safety of Rwanda Bill by the House of Lords, which inflicted a series of defeats against the controversial policy before rising for the spring break.
The Government will seek to strip out changes made by peers who want extra legal safeguards, including a provision to ensure “due regard” for domestic and international law.
Health Secretary Victoria Atkins suggested on Sunday the Home Office is “ready to go” in implementing the plan when the Bill gets on to the statute books.
The legislation seeks to revive the Government’s plan to send some asylum seekers on a oneway flight to Kigali. It declares the east African country is safe after the policy was grounded by the Supreme Court ruling the scheme was unlawful.
Meanwhile, the Times reported that Britain had also approached countries including Costa Rica, Armenia, Ivory Coast and Botswana in a bid to replicate the scheme elsewhere. The UK is in talks with the nations after Mr Sunak gave the Home Office and Foreign Office a deadline of last autumn to secure two additional deals, according to the paper.