22 April 2024 • 5:13pm
5:13PM
Division! MPs are voting on whether the Commons disagrees with the Lords on Amendment 3G.
The amendment would create tighter checks on whether Rwanda was still a safe country for asylum seekers.
5:11PM
‘Decent’ and ‘reasonable’ to accept amendment, urges Tim Farron Tim Farron, the former Liberal Democrat leader, said the amount spent on the Rwanda deportation plan was the equivalent to more than five million GP appointments.
“If Rwanda is a safe place, why would it be a deterrent? And if it’s not a safe place, why would any decent government send anyone there?” he asked.
Mr Farron insisted both of the amendments under consideration were inherently “decent” and “reasonable”, adding: “A reasonable government would accept [them]. This is awful legislation, it’s cruel, it’s expensive… The Government should concede.”
5:09PM
John McDonnell: We owe Afghan interpreters a debt of honour John McDonnell, a Labour MP who was Jeremy Corbyn’s shadow chancellor, said Britain owed a “debt of honour” to those who had assisted the Armed Forces overseas.
“It cannot be seen as a wrecking amendment in any way, it is simply a logical conclusion of the debate we’ve had in both our Houses.
“And I urge the other place to stand firm on this one because I do actually think the British public support this amendment. I urge the Government to think again because this has gone beyond the normal process.
“I think at the moment the general political mood and public mood is for goodness sake, where there’s a compromise offered you should seize it, particularly on this issue.”
5:07PM
Former Tory justice secretary backs ‘safe country’ amendment Sir Robert Buckland, a former justice secretary, said he would support an amendment that would create tighter checks on whether Rwanda was still a safe country for asylum seekers.
“I’m glad that in his tone and his approach to this, [Michael Tomlinson] has absolutely embraced this debate as he should, which is all about the detail, getting it right. He knows that I support this policy, we’ve heard a lot of rhetoric again in this chamber which is unfair and misleading.
“However I do think that the revised amendment 3G in its form now does actually strike an appropriate balance here, not only in terms of making sure that the reality of the position in Rwanda is met by the deeming provision in law, but there is a mechanism by which we can deal with this as a Parliament if indeed in circumstances change.
“He did almost concede that if there was a change in the situation in Rwanda primary legislation would at least have to be considered by the Government… It seems to me it would be far better to ensure against that by making sure that in this Bill we can wrap it all up and have a system that is not just strong when it comes to potential challenge, but which also gives this place I think its rightful role. So I do still commend and support that particular provision.”
Sir Robert added: “I’m in the market for sorting things out now… That’s why I would commend a little further movement on 10F [the amendment about Afghan interpreters]
4:57PM
Time to get this Bill passed, says Tim Loughton “Now it’s time” to get the Rwanda Bill passed, Tim Loughton, a former Home Office minister, told the debate.
“The Government has given undertakings. We’ve heard further undertakings about the treatment of Afghan refugees here today.
“This does not oblige the Government to return anybody from Afghanistan. There are explicit schemes specifically to protect them.”
4:55PM
SNP: We will oppose Rwanda Bill every step of the way Alison Thewliss, the SNP MP for Glasgow Central, told the Commons she considered the Rwanda Bill “despicable” and “state-sponsored people trafficking”.
“It goes against our obligations and international law. Scotland wants no part of it.
“We will oppose it every step of the way.”
4:52PM
Senior Tory: Let MPs decide whether Rwanda remains safe Sir Jeremy Wright, a Tory MP and former attorney general, said if declaring Rwanda safe in the first instance was a matter for Parliament, whether it “remains safe” should also be a matter for Parliament.
“This Bill provides no mechanism for Parliament to change its mind if circumstances change, save for primary legislation which we would need the Government to introduce.”
He said it should be for Parliament to determine whether Rwanda remained safe, rather than a monitoring committee as is set out by the Bill.
Sir Jeremy concluded: “It leaves me little place to go other than to support this amendment if my Rt Hon friend can’t propose a better way of resolving this deficiency.”
4:48PM
Labour: Rwanda Bill is a ‘disgrace’ and ‘betrayal’ of Afghan interpreters Stephen Kinnock said the lack of an exemption from deportation for Afghans who worked with the UK military was a “disgrace” and “betrayal”.
“What a disgrace, what a betrayal of British values, what a hammer blow to our moral standing in the world,” the shadow immigration minister said.
“It is also driven by our national interest and by military logic, for the simple and obvious reason that the ability of our Armed Forces to recruit local allies to support us in the future will be severely constrained if this Bill passes unamended.”
4:34PM
Labour accuses Tories of ‘tokenism and posturing of the worst sort’ Stephen Kinnock, Labour’s shadow immigration minister, branded the Rwanda Bill “a sham [and] a con of a bill”.
He said: “The plan is as unworkable as it is unaffordable and that’s why Labour would instead repurpose the money that’s being squandered and set aside for the scheme into a cross-border police unit and security partnership which would go after the criminal gangs upstream and restore order to our border.”
Mr Kinnock promised a new returns and border unit given that failed asylum seeker returns had fallen by 44 per cent under the Conservatives, while the removal of foreign criminals had decreased by 27 per cent.
“Our plan will end the Tory boats chaos, fix our broken asylum system and restore our border security. The Government’s plan is, as the former immigration himself described it [Robert Jenrick]… is to get a few symbolic flights off the ground ahead of a general election, regardless of the wider impact. It really is tokenism and posturing of the worst sort.”
4:31PM
‘The time has come for Labour Lords to respect the views of this House’ Michael Tomlinson insisted the Lords amendment about exemptions for Afghan interpreters who worked with British troops was “unnecessary”.
“I have confirmed the British Government will not remove those who received a positive eligibility decision… We will not let them down.”
He concluded: “Criminal gangs are determined who comes to the United Kingdom as vulnerable people are being lured into unseaworthy boats and risking their lives. Billions of pounds of taxpayers’ money is being spent on illegal migration. Our resources and services are reaching their limits. We must put an end to it.
“We must pass this legislation and stop the boats. I urge this House once again to send an unambiguous message to the other place. The time has come for the Labour Lords to respect the views of this House and let this Bill now pass.”
4:28PM
Michael Tomlinson: Afghans who supported British Army have safe, legal routes here Michael Tomlinson said the Government “greatly values” the contribution of those who have supported the British Army overseas “and that is why there are legal routes for them to come here to the United Kingdom”.
Mr Tomlinson noted there were already existing laws meaning the Home Secretary had “specific powers” to consider cases on an individual and group basis.
“The Government will not remove to Rwanda those who received a positive eligibility decision as a result of this review where they are already in the United Kingdom as of today.
“This is an important point and it is a point I emphasise today in front of this House.”
4:25PM
We can pass new law should Rwanda ever become unsafe, insists illegal migration minister Michael Tomlinson, the minister for illegal migration, said the Rwanda Bill in its current form “is clear and is unambiguous”.
“There are procedures already in place under the terms of the treaty to monitor the safety of Rwanda for those who are relocated there,” Mr Tomlinson said.
“We have already established the right mechanisms so that should the situation ever arise, the Government will respond as necessary and this would include a range of options to respond including as my Rt Hon friend knows any primary legislation if required.
“I can now confirm that last Friday the Rwandan parliament passed their domestic legislation to implement their new asylum system. The partnership is one important component of an important bilateral partnership.”
4:21PM
Jim Shannon: This back and forth is a democratic embarrassment Jim Shannon, the DUP MP, said Michael Tomlinson was “an honourable person” but added: “Does the minister not agree that there is a simple way out of this deadlock, and that is to exempt those who can demonstrate that they were assisting the British Forces in Afghanistan?
“This back and forth is not an example of democratic exercise, but rather that of democratic embarrassment. A way forward must be found before we bring this place and our procedures into disrepute.”
Mr Tomlinson replied: “I hope to seek to persuade him by these words that there are steps that can be taken., there are reassurances that can be made.”
4:17PM
Minister for illegal migration: ‘Enough is enough’ Michael Tomlinson, the minister for illegal migration, said Labour “has voted against our measures to tackle illegal migration 134 times now”.
“134 times they have told the British people they oppose our tougher immigration legislation. Enough is enough. The opposition have delayed this Bill for too long, enough is enough.”
4:08PM
How did we get here? Why has the Rwanda Bill been held up for so long? The Bill has been delayed for so long because the Lords keeps supporting amendments to the legislation passed by MPs. While the Commons has voted these down, peers have then tabled new amendments and backed those, leaving the Bill in limbo.What does the Government want? The Government wants the Bill to pass unamended and Rishi Sunak has said Parliament will “sit and vote” until it has cleared the Lords, no matter how long it takes.What does the Lords want? The Lords wants the Commons to accept two amendments. One of these would exempt Afghans who worked with the British Army, and the other would create tighter checks on whether Rwanda was still a safe country for asylum seekers.How will it be resolved? The current impasse between the Lords and the Commons will only be resolved as and when a majority of peers give way and support the Government. 4:02PM
Good afternoon Dominic Penna here, The Telegraph’s Political Correspondent, guiding you through the rest of what could be a long evening of it in Westminster.
3:39PM
How the Rwanda Bill debate and votes will play out MPs will start to debate the latest changes made to the Rwanda Bill by peers just after 4pm, once an urgent question in the House of Commons on the crisis in Sudan has concluded.
They will have up to an hour to talk about the changes but, given the number of times they have already done so in the previous rounds of “ping-pong”, they may wrap up with time to spare.
They will then vote on the two amendments passed by peers last week. Those amendments demand an exemption from deportation for Afghans who worked with the UK military and tighter checks on whether Rwanda remains safe for asylum seekers.
MPs are expected to vote to strip the amendments out of the Bill and it will then travel to the House of Lords where peers will decide whether to dig in and make fresh changes or give way and allow the legislation to finally pass.
3:20PM
Watch: Sunak declares ‘no ifs, no buts, these flights are going to Rwanda’
3:05PM
SNP: Rwanda plan ‘tantamount to state-sponsored people trafficking’ Alison Thewliss, the SNP’s home affairs spokesperson, described the Government’s Rwanda plan as being “tantamount to state-sponsored people trafficking”.
Ms Thewliss said she will be supporting amendments made to the Rwanda Bill by the House of Lords.
She told Sky News this afternoon: “This Bill as far as I am concerned is tantamount to state-sponsored people trafficking.
“It is removing people to Rwanda against their will and it should not be the actions of any responsible government.”
Ms Thewliss described the Bill as “absolutely awful”.
2:50PM
Pictured: Starmer speaks with U17 England footballers during visit to St George’s Park Sir Keir Starmer, the Labour leader, speaks with players from the women’s U17 England football squad during a visit to St George’s Park in Burton Upon Trent Credit: Leon Neal/Getty Images Europe 2:44PM
Starmer vows to harness national pride to deliver new sports stars Britain must harness its “national pride” to deliver the next generation of sports stars, Sir Keir Starmer has said.
The Labour leader declared that “patriotism is a force for good” and paramount to getting children active as he vowed to level the playing field for aspiring young athletes.
Speaking ahead of St George’s Day on Tuesday, he said sporting pride “runs deep in the nation’s psyche” and forms “a cornerstone of our national life”.
You can read the full story here.
2:30PM
Pictured: Foreign Secretary visits the Ata Beyit memorial in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan Lord Cameron, the Foreign Secretary, is pictured today during a visit to the Ata Beyit memorial for victims of Russian aggression in Bishkek in Kyrgyzstan during his five day tour of the Central Asia region Credit: Stefan Rousseau/Getty Images 2:10PM
Senior Tory MP ‘absolutely’ prepared for all night sitting to pass Rwanda Bill Tim Loughton, a Tory former minister, said he was ready to sit in the House of Commons all night in order to get the Rwanda Bill onto the statute book.
Rishi Sunak has said he will make MPs and peers debate and vote on the Bill continuously today until it is agreed.
Mr Loughton said the Rwanda plan is an “entirely workable” and when asked if he was prepared to sit through the night, he told the BBC: “Absolutely. I have got the sleeping bag ready.”
1:42PM
Ex-minister ‘disappointed’ by PM’s Rwanda timetable A senior Tory MP said he was “disappointed” at the Prime Minister’s 10 to 12 week timetable for the first Rwanda flight to take off.
Tim Loughton, a former minister, told the BBC Radio 4 World at One programme: “I am disappointed given that this has been in the offing for a long time. It has been delayed for a long time now by the original court case at the Supreme Court and then the new legislation, it is quite right the Government came back and addressed those concerns, and it has been debated to within an inch of its life in the Commons and now in the Lords.
“People support this policy, people want to see it happen, to believe that it is a credible policy.
“But most importantly those attempting to come across the Channel… need to know they are not going to end up in the UK.”
1:30PM
Pictured: Lord Cameron arrives in Kyrgyzstan as part of his tour of Central Asia Lord Cameron arrives at Bishek airport in Kyrgyzstan as part of his five-day tour of the Central Asia region Credit: Stefan Rousseau /Reuters 1:26PM
Cooper signals Labour would scrap Rwanda plan even if it is up and running Yvette Cooper signalled a Labour government would scrap the Rwanda plan even if it is up and running.
The shadow home secretary said the policy is “unaffordable”.
Asked if Labour would stop the flights, she told the BBC’s World At One programme: “We have been clear from the beginning that this scheme is unaffordable, it is unworkable, this is £500 million for just 1 per cent of asylum seekers and there is no plan at all for the 99 per cent.”
1:19PM
Watch: Will Sunak’s Rwanda flights policy really work? Rishi Sunak believes deporting asylum seekers who arrive in Britain illegally to Rwanda will reduce small boat crossings.
Labour has vowed to scrap the policy, arguing it is a gimmick.
So will the plan really work?
My colleague Ben Riley-Smith has examined the question in the latest episode of The Telegraph’s Westminster Source series:
1:02PM
Rwanda Bill debate pushed back The start of the Rwanda Bill debate in the House of Commons will be pushed back a little.
An urgent question has been granted on the crisis in Sudan.
That will take place immediately after the first order of business in the Commons this afternoon, levelling up questions, which will start at 2.30pm and last for an hour.
So the urgent question should get underway just after 3.30pm. Urgent questions normally last for about 45 minutes so the Rwanda debate should start at about 4.15pm.
12:49PM
Sunak: ‘No foreign court will stop us getting flights off’ 12:36PM
Farage: ‘Not a single person is going to Rwanda’ Nigel Farage claimed “not a single person is going to Rwanda” on the Government’s deportation flights as he predicted the policy will become bogged down in the courts.
The honorary president of Reform UK told GB News: “What people care about is: are the numbers crossing the Channel going to stop? He [Rishi Sunak] made no acknowledgement in his speech of the fact that numbers are up 25 per cent so far this year.
“He said we’ll defy the European Court of Human Rights. Well, I very much doubt that he will. But even if he did, there’s something missing here.
“It’s called the Human Rights Act 1998. That was the legislation that took the ECHR and put it into British law and all the while it’s there, there will be legal cases taken and British judges will find in favour of the legislation.
“I promise you, not a single person is going to Rwanda. This is a complete charade.”
12:30PM
Farage claims Sunak will not deliver on new Rwanda flights timetable Nigel Farage said he does not believe Rishi Sunak will deliver on his timetable of Rwanda flights taking off in 10 to 12 weeks.
He told GB News: “What happens is every time Rishi Sunak speaks on this subject, he raises the rhetoric.
“He raises the rhetoric, and he does so of course because public anger is so great, the sense of injustice and unfairness.
“Do I believe that in 10 to 12 weeks’ time, there’ll be planes taking off with significant numbers of migrants on board? No, I don’t.”
12:19PM
Refugee Council labels Rwanda plan a ‘futile endeavour’ The Refugee Council urged the Government to “stop wasting time” with its Rwanda plan and focus instead on processing asylum claims.
Enver Solomon, the council’s chief executive, said: “Refugee flows are driven by global events and geopolitical factors such as armed conflicts and political instability, and the reasons people come to the UK are often to do with family connections, community links and language.
“The Government must stop wasting time and resources on futile endeavours and focus instead on the vital task of processing asylum claims promptly and fairly.”
12:12PM
Pictured: Starmer talks to ex-Arsenal player Martin Keown during visit to St George’s Park Sir Keir Starmer talks to Martin Keown, the former Arsenal football player, during a visit to St George’s Park in Burton-on-Trent as Labour hold a shadow cabinet away day Credit: Jacob King/PA 12:06PM
Cost of Rwanda scheme is ‘extortionate’, says Labour Yvette Cooper rejected Rishi Sunak’s claim that Labour had delayed the passage of the Rwanda Bill through Parliament and argued the cost of the scheme is “extortionate”.
Asked if Labour was blocking the Bill, the shadow home secretary told broadcasters: “The Government has an overall majority in Parliament and could have passed this Bill a month ago if they had scheduled it then, but as we know Rishi Sunak always looks for someone else to blame.
“This is costing the taxpayer half-a-billion pounds for a scheme that will only cover 1 per cent of asylum seekers.
“This is an extortionate scheme. They should be putting that money into boosting our border security instead. That is what Labour would do.”
11:56AM
Sir Ed Davey: Rwanda plan a ‘colossal failure’ Sir Ed Davey claimed the Government’s Rwanda plan was a “colossal failure” as he responded to Rishi Sunak’s press conference and demanded a general election.
The leader of the Liberal Democrats said: “No amount of sound bites or spin can change the fact that the Conservative’s Rwanda scheme is a colossal failure.
“Millions of pounds and years of government attention have already been wasted, with absolutely nothing to show for it.
“It’s time for Rishi Sunak to get a grip, get to the Palace and give this country the election it is crying out for.”
11:51AM
How the Rwanda plan could determine the date of the general election The Rwanda policy is viewed by some in Westminster as one of Rishi Sunak’s potential trump cards ahead of the general election and there is a feeling that its success or failure could have a bearing on the timing of the contest.
The thinking goes like this: If the scheme does get off the ground then Mr Sunak could seize on that moment to call the election as he would be able to argue that he had made significant progress towards his goal of stopping the boats.
Conservative strategists would be hoping the flights would provide a poll boost and create some momentum which could then build during the campaign.
Mr Sunak refused to be drawn on the issue this morning as he continued to keep his cards close to his chest on the election timing question.
Asked if he could rule out a summer election so that the Rwanda scheme is given time to succeed, the Prime Minister replied: “I have said what I have said about an election multiple times before. My working assumption is an election in the second half of the year.
“That remains the case and also, everything I have said on the timing of this is as I said.”
Rishi Sunak, the Prime Minister, arrives at No 9 Downing Street today for a press conference on his Rwanda plan Credit: Toby Melville /Reuters 11:41AM
People smugglers turning attention to Vietnamese migrants, says Sunak It was revealed last week that more Channel migrants have come from Vietnam this year than any other country. Rishi Sunak told his press conference this morning that Vietnamese arrivals had “increased ten-fold”.
But he said the UK is working to strengthen its relationship with Vietnam and he was “confident” those numbers will fall:
“These sophisticated gangs are changing tactics once again. As well as piling twice as many people into small dinghies and increasing violence against French police they have shifted their attentions towards vulnerable Vietnamese migrants.
“Vietnamese arrivals have increased ten-fold and account for almost all of the increase in small boat numbers we have seen this year.
“And just as we succeeded in reducing Albanian arrivals dramatically, so I’m confident we will do the same when it comes to the Vietnamese. President Macron and I have agreed to work with European partners on closing loopholes to enter Europe in the first place.
“The Home Office have signed a Joint Statement with the Vietnamese Government committing to deepen our already very strong migration relationship and just last week officials from the Government of Vietnam were at Western Jetfoil and Manston to observe Border Force operations on the front line as they continue to manage small boat arrivals.”
11:36AM
Sunak rejects claims Rwanda plan lacks compassion Rishi Sunak used his press conference to counter critics’ claims that the Government’s Rwanda scheme lacks compassion.
The Prime Minister argued the opposite is the case:
“I know there are some who will hear all of this and accuse me of lacking compassion. But the truth is the opposite.
“We are in a battle with callous, sophisticated, and global criminal gangs who care nothing for the lives they risk in unseaworthy dinghies.
“Nine people have died already attempting to cross the Channel just this year – including a seven-year-old girl.”
11:27AM
Will he or won’t he? Sunak repeats hint on quitting ECHR Conservative MPs on the right of the Tory Party will have listened carefully to Rishi Sunak’s words this morning as he repeated his hint that he could take the UK out of the European Convention on Human Rights if it blocks the Rwanda scheme.
There are growing calls from some Tory MPs for the UK to quit the ECHR. They believe the UK will never be able to exercise total control over its borders while it is subject to rulings made by the European court.
Mr Sunak did not explicitly say he would take the UK out of the ECHR but he repeated his line that no foreign court will be allowed to block the flights.
This is the key quote from the press conference:
“This is one of the most complex operational endeavours the Home Office has carried out. But we are ready. Plans are in place. And these flights will go come what may. No foreign court will stop us from getting flights off.”
11:19AM
How has the Government prepared to get Rwanda flights off the ground? Rishi Sunak used his press conference to set out some of the details on the Government’s preparations to get Rwanda flights off the ground.
He said that detention spaces have been increased to 2,200, some 25 court rooms will be available to hear challenges and 150 judges have been identified to hear the cases. He also revealed an airfield has been put on standby and slots have been booked with commercial charter planes.
Here is what Mr Sunak said on the subject:
“Starting from the moment that the Bill passes, we will begin the process of removing those identified for the first flight.
“We have prepared for this moment. To detain people while we prepare to remove them, we have increased detention spaces to 2,200. To quickly process claims we have got 200 trained dedicated case workers ready and waiting.
“To deal with any legal cases quickly and decisively, the judiciary have made available 25 court rooms and identified 150 judges who could provide over 5,000 sitting days.
“The Strasbourg court have amended their rule 39 procedures in line with the tests set out in our Illegal Migration Act.
“And we have put beyond all doubt that ministers can disregard these injunctions with clear guidance that if they decide to do so civil servants must deliver that instruction.
“And most importantly, once the processing is complete, we will physically remove people. And to do that I can confirm that we have put an airfield on standby, booked commercial charter planes for specific slots and we have 500 highly trained individuals ready to escort illegal migrants all the way to Rwanda with 300 more trained in the coming weeks.”
11:12AM
Sunak seeking steady ‘drum beat’ of Rwanda flights Rishi Sunak said he wanted there to be a “drum beat” of regular migrant deportation flights to Rwanda across the summer and beyond.
The Prime Minister told a press conference in Downing Street: “This isn’t just about one flight. Could you rush and get one flight off? Maybe you could.
“But that is not the priority here. The priority is being able to deliver a regular rhythm, a drum beat of multiple flights a month over the summer and beyond because that is how you build a systematic deterrent and that is how you will stop the boats.”
11:09AM
PM: ‘Success is when the boats have been stopped’ Rishi Sunak said the Rwanda plan will only be a success if it stops small boat Channel crossings.
The Prime Minister told a press conference in Downing Street this morning: “Success is when the boats have been stopped. That is what the country expects. That is what the Government and I have committed to delivering.
“Yes, while 10 to 12 weeks is later than we wanted… the delay for that is crystal clear and obvious to everybody. You have had Labour peers blocking this time and time again.”
Rishi Sunak, the Prime Minister, holds a press conference in Downing Street Credit: Toby Melville /PA 11:04AM
Sunak says he does have confidence in Sir Mark Rowley Rishi Sunak said he does have confidence in Sir Mark Rowley amid a row over the Metropolitan Police’s handling of pro-Palestine marches in London.
A new row erupted over the weekend after the Campaign Against Antisemitism published footage of a police officer describing its chief executive Gideon Falter as “openly Jewish” near a protest on April 13.
Sir Mark, the Met Commissioner, has faced some calls to quit.
Asked if he had confidence in Sir Mark, Mr Sunak said: “What happened was clearly wrong and it is right that they have apologised for that. And yes, I do have confidence in him but that is on the basis that he works to rebuild the confidence and trust of not just the Jewish community but the wider public, particularly people in London but more broadly.
“And you regain that trust and that confidence by making it clear that the police are not tolerating behaviour that we would all collectively deem unacceptable when we see it because it undermines our values. I think that is critical.”
10:54AM
Sunak repeats hint of leaving ECHR if it blocks Rwanda flights Rishi Sunak repeated his hint that he could take the UK out of the European Convention on Human Rights if it blocks his Rwanda plan.
He said that he is “confident that we are acting in a way that is completely compliant with all of our international obligations”.
But he added: “Now is the time for the flights to go and I am not going to let a foreign court, given all of that, block us from getting flights up and this deterrent up and running.”
10:51AM
PM: ‘Loud minority’ will do anything to stop Rwanda flights Asked how many people would be put on the flights and how regular the flights would be, the Prime Minister refused to be drawn.
Rishi Sunak said he appreciated there would be “lots of interest in the exact operational detail” of the scheme and his opening statement at today’s press conference had given a “sense of the preparation work that has gone into this”.
He said there was a “loud minority” of people who would do “absolutely anything and everything” to disrupt the Government’s flagship policy.
Rishi Sunak, the Prime Minister, is pictured today during a press conference in Downing Street Credit: Toby Melville /Reuters 10:43AM
First Rwanda flight will take off in ‘10 to 12 weeks’, says Sunak Rishi Sunak said the first migrant deportation flights to Rwanda will take place in “10 to 12 weeks”.
He told a Downing Street press conference: “The first flight will leave in 10 to 12 weeks. Of course that is later than we wanted but we have always been clear that processing will take time and if Labour peers had not spent weeks holding up the Bill in the House of Lords to try to block these flights altogether we would have begin this process weeks ago.”
The Prime Minister said after that there will be a “regular rhythm” to the flights.
10:40AM
Commercial charter planes booked for Rwanda flights, says PM Rishi Sunak said the Government has an airfield on standby and it has booked commercial charter planes to take migrants to Rwanda.
He said: “I can confirm that we have put an airfield on standby, booked commercial charter planes for specific slots and we have 500 highly trained individuals ready to escort illegal migrants all the way to Rwanda with 300 more trained in the coming weeks.”
He added: “We are ready. Plans are in place. And these flights will go come what may. No foreign court will stop us from getting flights off.”
10:37AM
Sunak: ‘No ifs, no buts, these flights are going to Rwanda’ Rishi Sunak said his political opponents “have used every trick in the book to block flights and keep the boats coming” as he started his press conference in Downing Street.
The Prime Minister said MPs and peers will debate and vote on the Bill today until it is passed “no matter how late it goes”.
“No ifs, no buts, these flights are going to Rwanda,” he said.
10:28AM
Rishi Sunak press conference set to start Rishi Sunak’s press conference on the Rwanda Bill is set to start.
We are expecting the Prime Minister to appear in the media room in No 9 Downing Street just after 10.30am.
10:16AM
Sunak: Passing Rwanda Bill will send ‘very clear message’ to small boat migrants Rishi Sunak told his ministers that the Rwanda Bill making it onto the statute book would send a “very clear message” to small boat Channel migrants.
The Prime Minister convened a meeting of the Government’s illegal migration operations committee in 10 Downing Street this morning.
Mr Sunak told the committee: “Voting this Bill through Parliament today we collectively can send a very clear message that if you come here illegally you won’t be able to stay.”
The PM is due to hold a press conference on the issue shortly.
Rishi Sunak is pictured this morning during a meeting of the Government’s illegal migration operations committee in 10 Downing Street Credit: Toby Melville /Reuters 10:06AM
Foreign Office tried to scupper Rwanda deportations, leaked papers show The Foreign Office tried to scupper the Rwanda deportation scheme over concerns it could breach human rights laws, leaked government documents show.
A government memo, seen by The Telegraph, shows that the Foreign Office sought to have Rwanda removed from a list of countries identified for “offshore” processing of asylum seekers deported from the UK, warning also it could anger Commonwealth partners.
You can read the full story here.
9:55AM
Pictured: Starmer and Reeves travel to the Midlands for shadow cabinet meeting Sir Keir Starmer and Rachel Reeves travel to the Midlands this morning for a shadow cabinet meeting Credit: Leon Neal /Getty Images Europe 9:38AM
Sunak to set out ‘operational plan’ for Rwanda flights Rishi Sunak will use a press conference later this morning to set out the “robust” plans for getting flights carrying asylum seekers to Rwanda in the air.
Andrew Mitchell, the deputy foreign secretary, told ITV’s Good Morning Britain programme that the Prime Minister will give details of the “operational plans”.
Mr Mitchell said the Government’s illegal migration operations committee is meeting at No 10 this morning ahead of the press conference.
“Then the Prime Minister will be holding a press conference to set out the operational plan, but I can assure you that the operational plans are robust, sensible and should work,” he said.
9:14AM
Peers’ Afghan exemption in Rwanda Bill is unnecessary, says minister Andrew Mitchell rejected peers’ calls for Afghans who helped British troops to be exempted from the risk of being sent to Rwanda if they arrive in the UK on a small boat.
The deputy foreign secretary insisted there was already a “safe and legal route” available to them to come to the UK.
Mr Mitchell told Times Radio: “We have an absolute obligation to Afghan interpreters, people who served the British Army, served our country during the Afghan crisis.
“But I’m pleased to say that thanks to the scheme that the Government set up, the Arap [Afghan relocations and assistance policy] scheme, something like 16,100 Afghans have been given settlement in the UK.
“So I don’t think this amendment is necessary, there is already a safe and legal route for Afghan interpreters and others who served the Army.”
8:51AM
Lords has ‘bordered on racism’ during Rwanda Bill debate, claims minister Andrew Mitchell claimed the House of Lords had “bordered on racism” in some of its debate on the safety of Rwanda.
Peers want the Government to accept an amendment to the Rwanda Bill which would only allow the country to be deemed safe for asylum seekers once an independent monitoring committee has ruled on the matter.
Mr Mitchell, the deputy foreign secretary, said the amendment is unnecessary and suggested it was at best “patronising”.
He told the BBC Radio 4 Today programme: “Some of the discussions that have gone on in the Lords about the judicial arrangements, the legal arrangements within Rwanda have been patronising and in my view border on racism.
“So we don’t think it is necessary to have that amendment either and that the necessary structures are in place to ensure that the scheme works properly and fairly.”
Andrew Mitchell, the deputy foreign secretary, is pictured this morning in Westminster Credit: Tayfun Salci /Shutterstock 8:36AM
Braverman accuses Met Police of ‘wholesale failure to combat anti-Semitism’ Suella Braverman accused the Metropolitan Police of a “wholesale failure to combat anti-Semitism”.
The former home secretary has called for Sir Mark Rowley, the Met Police Commissioner, to quit over his handling of pro-Palestine marches in London.
A new row erupted over the weekend after the Campaign Against Antisemitism published footage of a police officer describing its chief executive Gideon Falter as “openly Jewish” near a protest on April 13.
Mrs Braverman told the BBC: “My complaint is not against the individual police officers. They are all working really hard in really difficult circumstances.
“My complaint is the wholesale failure to combat anti-Semitism and to maintain the peace on the streets of London over the last six months.”
Mrs Braverman said the latest incident “shines a light on what has been happening” as she argued “at this point in time there is unprecedented anti-Semitism on our streets”.
Mrs Braverman and BBC Radio 4 Today presenter Mishal Husain repeatedly clashed over whether the Tory MP had watched all of the footage of the incident.
8:19AM
Braverman refuses to rule out backing bid to overthrow Sunak Suella Braverman has refused to rule out backing a bid to oust Rishi Sunak if his Rwanda plan fails.
The former home secretary said she “fully expects” Mr Sunak to lead the Conservative Party into the next general election but she would not be drawn on whether she would back a leadership challenge against him.
Asked if she would support a challenge between now and the next general election, Mrs Braverman told the BBC: “As I said, I just don’t think that is going to happen.”
Told that was not a “no”, Mrs Braverman said: “The Prime Minister is going to, I am sure, lead us into the next general election. I have a lot of concerns about the path that he is taking.”
Asked again if she would support a challenge to his leadership, she said: “I have been urging him to change course, repeatedly. I believe we are not providing policies or solutions that the British people are supporting and unfortunately every poll we look at at the moment suggests that we are heading for defeat.”
Mrs Braverman said she believed Mr Sunak’s Rwanda Bill was “fatally flawed” and would not result in regular migrant deportation flights taking off.
8:11AM
Rwanda Bill is ‘fatally flawed’, says Braverman Suella Braverman said the Government’s Rwanda Bill is “fatally flawed” and has “too many loopholes” ahead of crucial votes on the legislation in Parliament today.
The former home secretary told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme: “Unfortunately I voted against the legislation because I think it’s fatally flawed.
“I don’t think it’s going to stop the boats, and that’s the test of its efficacy.”
She said a “token” or “a few flights” taking off will not be enough to deter small boat crossings and there needed to be regular flights.
7:59AM
Deputy foreign secretary: Sir Mark Rowley will be held to account Andrew Mitchell, the deputy foreign secretary, said James Cleverly would hold Sir Mark Rowley to account for the way pro-Palestine protests have been handled.
The Metropolitan Police have been embroiled in a row after the Campaign Against Antisemitism published footage of a police officer describing its chief executive Gideon Falter as “openly Jewish” near a pro-Palestine protest in central London on April 13.
Sir Mark has faced calls to quit, with the Met having apologised for its handling of the incident. The Met Commissioner is expected to meet with Mr Cleverly, the Home Secretary, in the coming days.
Mr Mitchell told Sky News: “I think it was an appalling episode and the Home Secretary will undoubtedly hold Sir Mark, the Metropolitan Police Commissioner, to account for what happened.
“I think the police do an incredibly difficult job on these occasions, so I am not criticising the bobby on the beat who was policing the demonstration.
“But I think there are strategic issues about how we ensure that Jewish people, people of any faith at all, can go about their business in London and not be impeded in the way that he was and not be stopped from walking through the streets of London because of the demonstrations that were taking place. That’s a strategic issue and it needs to be resolved by the police.”
7:52AM
Pictured: Lord Cameron in Tajikistan this morning during whistle-stop tour of Central Asia Lord Cameron, the Foreign Secretary, is pictured today with Sirojiddin Muhriddin, the Tajik foreign minister, during a visit to Dushanbe, Tajikistan Credit: Stefan Rousseau /PA 7:39AM
How the Rwanda Bill showdown will play out today It could be a long day (and night) for MPs and peers as they lock horns for the final time over the Rwanda Bill.
The House of Commons will sit from 2.30pm this afternoon and if there are no urgent questions or statements then the debate on the Rwanda Bill will start just after 3.30pm.
The first job will be for MPs to vote to remove the latest batch of amendments made by peers to the legislation.
The Bill will then return to the upper chamber when all eyes will be on whether peers dig in and vote through further changes or allow it to pass unamended.
If peers make fresh changes then the Bill will return immediately to the Commons for MPs to vote on. This process will repeat for as long as necessary until a version of the Bill is agreed by both Houses.
The expectation is that the Lords, as the unelected chamber, will eventually drop its opposition and allow the Bill to pass. But peers could insist on multiple more rounds of “ping-pong” which could stretch the back and forth into the late evening or even early hours of tomorrow morning.
7:30AM
Sunak to hold press conference ahead of Rwanda Bill showdown Rishi Sunak will hold a press conference in Downing Street this morning as he urges peers to stop blocking his flagship Rwanda Bill.
The House of Commons and House of Lords are locked in a game of parliamentary “ping-pong” over the legislation with peers demanding amendments but No 10 insisting they cannot be accepted.
Downing Street has vowed to keep Parliament sitting late into the night if necessary today in order to pass the Bill and finally get it onto the statute book.
The legislation would formally designate Rwanda as a safe country for asylum seekers and the Government hopes that once the Bill becomes law it will pave the way for the first migrant deportation flights to take off.