Spring deadline in doubt over flights to Rwanda
DOWNING Street has refused to recommit to Rishi Sunak’s spring deadline to get deportation flights off the ground to Rwanda, as his Bill remains stuck in deadlock after defiant peers again insisted on changes to the controversial scheme.
The Prime Minister’s spokesman said the timetable was initially set out in November “but obviously the Bill has continued to be delayed” by the House of Lords.
The proposed law aims to send some asylum seekers on a oneway trip to Rwanda in order to deter people from crossing the English Channel in small boats.
Mr Sunak has said he wants to see flights take off this spring but MPS will not consider the legislation again until Monday.
Pressed on whether spring was still the target, his spokesman told reporters: “Our intention is to get this passed on Monday such that we can then set out the timetable for getting flights off as soon as possible.
“I’m not going to get ahead of the Bill passing, which obviously we’ve seen again last night has continued to be held up.
“We’re working at pace to ensure these flights leave as soon as possible. It’s now incumbent on the Lords to pass this Bill such that we can trigger the final planning phases and ultimately stop the boats.”
Asked whether Mr Sunak should take some blame for the delay, his spokesman said: “No, I don’t accept that. The Bill was brought forward within weeks, rapidly following the conclusions of the Supreme Court.”
The Bill and a treaty with Rwanda are intended to prevent further legal challenges to the stalled asylum scheme after the Supreme Court ruled the plan was unlawful. As well as compelling judges to regard the east African country as safe, it would give ministers the power to ignore emergency injunctions.
But the House of Lords on Wednesday snubbed ministerial calls to back down and again insisted on revisions to the Safety of Rwanda (Asylum and Immigration) Bill.
Peers renewed their demand that Rwanda cannot be treated as a safe country until an independent monitoring body has verified that protections contained in the treaty are implemented.
Earlier, Grant Shapps said ministers will do “whatever we need to do” to fly asylum seekers to Rwanda, in an apparent hint the RAF could be used for deportation flights.
Downing Street has drawn up plans to order the Ministry of Defence to repurpose at least one of the leased aircraft for this, according to The Times.