No 10 fails to name Rwanda take-off date

DOWNING STREET has appeared to drop its target of getting the first Rwanda migrant deportation flights off the ground this spring.

The Prime Minister’s spokesman refused four times to say if the deadline would be met after the passage of the Government’s flagship Rwanda Bill through Parliament was blocked for a fourth time by peers on Wednesday. Its final stages have now been delayed until Monday.

Asked if spring remained the target date, he said: “The timetable that we previously set out was factoring in plenty of time for parliamentary debate. But obviously, obviously the Bill has continued to be delayed. We’re working at pace to ensure these flights leave as soon as possible. But it’s now incumbent on the Lords to pass this Bill so we can get flights off as soon as possible.”

Rishi Sunak has consistently said that he wants the deportation flights to start this spring, but migrants earmarked for the first flights cannot be notified until the Bill gains Royal Assent. There is then a legal appeal process required by law for the migrants that is scheduled to take four to eight weeks.

The latest delay came after the Lords voted for two amendments to the legislation, sending it back to the Commons for a fourth time. The standoff – over demands to exempt Afghans who worked with the UK military and to tighten checks on whether Rwanda remains safe for asylum seekers – has put back the passing of the Bill until Monday.

Following backbench criticism that the Government has not forced votes “around the clock” to get the Bill through, ministers indicated that they will aim to complete the process on Monday. The Government indicated yesterday, however, that it would not be making any concessions on changes to the Bill requested by the Lords.

The proposal to exempt Afghan staff who worked with the British has been backed by three former chiefs of the defence staff as well as a former chief of the general staff and a former chief of the naval staff.