‘Labour wants to stop the planes... we want to stop the boats’
tomorrow. They have been ordered to have all the paperwork in order so they can be flown out swiftly once the removal plan is cleared for take off.
A massive operation will spring into action the moment the landmark legislation to stop flights being grounded by legal challenges becomes law.
Last night, on the eve of the crucial vote, Home Secretary James Cleverly sent a defiant message to Labour peers who have blocked the Bill 100 times.
He told the Sunday Express: “The public won’t stand for more delaying tactics, and neither will we.”
And Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has warned he will force meddling Lords to sit all night to get the Rwanda plan into law.
In another initiative, a massive advertising blitz will warn potential migrants in their homelands that it is now “dangerous” and “pointless” to come to Britain in a small boat.
A source close to the operation told the Sunday Express that work is going on behind the scenes on identifying who is “in scope” for the first flights.
More than 24,000 asylum seekers have been issued with letters warning them that they were being considered for removal.
About 4,000 of them are Albanians – the largest national group – with Iranians and Eritreans the next highest in number.
The notices of intent were sent out between January 2021 and March 2023.
A Home Office source said that countries in Europe and beyond are watching
‘The public won’t stand for more delaying tactics and neither will we’
Britain’s partnership with Rwanda with “real interest” as a “potential solution for them to a global challenge”.
And champions of the plan say it is a vital deterrent which will break the business model of people-smuggling gangs.
Mr Cleverly told this newspaper: “Labour will do anything to stop planes to Rwanda. We Conservatives will do everything to stop the boats.
“Over 100 times they have voted against Conservative plans to reduce immigration and secure our borders, and now Labour Lords continue to block the toughest piece of illegal migration legislation ever introduced.
“The public expect all their elected representatives to work together to stop people making very dangerous Channel crossings in the hands of ruthless smugglers who don’t care if those crammed on to inflatables die, just as long as they pay.”
And former Brexit Party leader Nigel Farage had a five-word message for the Lords: “Do what the country wants!”
Priti Patel also turned up pressure on the Lords to stop blocking the Safety of Rwanda Bill.
The former Home Secretary said: “The elected House of Commons must take every action to secure our borders which is what the British public demand.
“That’s why the passing of the Bill is key to ending the appalling trade in people and why the House of Lords has a duty to respect the will of the House of Commons and the British people and get this legislation done.”
And Damian
Green, chairman of the One Nation group of centrist Conservatives, said: “We need to stop the boats. Sending people to Rwanda would help. I hope the Lords give way.”
A key goal for peers who want to change the Bill is ensuring Afghans who helped UK troops will not be sent to Rwanda – and it is suggested in Tory circles that a compromise may be possible, though such a move would cause anger on the Right.
Labour peer Lord Hain said last night: “It is only pigheadedness that is stopping the Government conceding on that because frankly any fair-minded person would say, ‘Of course we should stand by our word and not suddenly stick them on a plane’.” He expects that if the Government makes a concession on this point the Lords would not block the Bill. But exbusiness Secretary Sir Jacob Rees-mogg described the proposal as “a purely wrecking amendment” that is “all about getting the courts back into the system”.
Arguing there is already an Afghan resettlement scheme, he said: “They don’t need to cross the Channel in a small boat.”
And Red Wall Tory MP Nick Fletcher pushed for the Bill to be made law, saying: “The sooner this legislation is passed the sooner we will stop the boats.
“I want to see planes taking as many illegal immigrants as we can from the UK. We need that deterrent and we need it now.
“Lefty lawyers and foreign judges need to realise our determination to enforce this deterrent is absolute.”
Preparations are under way for an international publicity campaign targeted at anyone considering coming to Britain illegally.
A source said: “We are geared up to spread the deterrent message loud, clear and far: If you come to the UK illegally, you won’t get to stay in the UK.”
The Government has been encouraged at the success of a similar campaign in discouraging Albanians from coming to the UK, and this is being repeated invietnam.
Migrants from the Far East country are now the largest group to make the Channel crossing. The majority are women, with many thought to be making the perilous journey to work in the sex industry.
Ministers from the UK and Vietnam last week discussed how to crack down on illegal immigration. It is believed Vietnamese are arriving after taking advantage of a visa agreement with Hungary.
There is nervousness among some Tories about whether the Rwanda scheme will work as a deterrent, with one minister predicting it would be a “failed policy”.
But Alp Mehmet, of campaign group Migration Watch, said: “We’ll know if Mr Sunak has got it right once the Bill is on the statute book and flights take off.”
Migrants shortlisted for a flight will not be notified officially until the Safety of Rwanda Bill receives Royal Assent.
‘Smugglers don’t care if those crammed on to inflatables die’