Rwanda Bill LIVE: Parliament showdown begins as Rishi Sunak says first flights to leave in 10 to 12 weeks

Rishi Sunak has said the first flights carrying asylum seekers to Rwanda will leave in 10 to 12 weeks, and the government will ensure they leave “come what may”.

The Prime Minister used a press conference on Monday to outline a “robust” operational plan ahead of the Safety of Rwanda (Asylum and Immigration) Bill's final showdown in Parliament.

He put further pressure on the Lords to end resistance to the scheme, as he said commercial flights have been put on standby, and promised there will be a “regular rhythm of multiple flights [to Rwanda] every month...until the boats are stopped”.

The scheme had initially been due to start in Spring, but Mr Sunak blamed Labour opposition to the scheme for the delays, vowing: “We will start the flights and we will stop the boats.

Peers have repeatedly blocked the legislation with a series of amendments, stretching debate on the "emergency legislation" over more than four months and delaying flights taking asylum seekers to Rwanda.

MPs rejected the Lords amendments on Monday afternoon, sending the legislation bac to peers. The parliamentary back-and-forth is set to go on late into the night.

Downing Street is hostile to the idea of making concessions to secure the passage of the Bill, leading to a deadlock with the upper chamber.

For the latest updates please scroll down.

Rwanda debate

• What do the Lords want?

• Afghans who helped UK forces will not be deported, says Minister

• Two Tories back amendments

• Rwanda Bill heads back to the Lords

Opposition Lords do not press Afghan amendment after 'concession'

Monday 22 April 2024 21:05 , Rachael Burford

Opposition Lords did not push demands for the Rwanda Bill to include an exemption from removal for Afghan nationals who assisted British troops following what opponents hailed as a government “concession”.

It comes after Home Office minister Michael Tomlinson said those who are eligible under the Afghan Relocations and Assistance Policy (ARAP) will not be deported to the African nation.

Peers did in heels

Monday 22 April 2024 20:43 , Rachael Burford

Peers have again dug in their heels over Rishi Sunak's Rwanda deportation plan and demanded MPs debate the scheme for a fifth time.

The House of Lords backed by 240 votes to 211, a requirement that the African country could not be treated as safe until the Secretary of State, having consulted an independent monitoring body, has made a statement to Parliament.

It means a continuation of the parliamentary deadlock over the Bill.

Labour would repeal Rwanda Bill if it wins next election

Monday 22 April 2024 20:26 , Rachael Burford

Labour's Lord Coaker says his party would repeal the Rwanda Bill if it wins the next election.

But he insists Labour Lords are not seeking to block the legislation.

"We all agree that we need to stop the boats, the dispute in this place is to exactly the right way to go about that," he says.

But the bill is "inconsistent with the principles and traditions of our country", he adds.

Lords begin debate

Monday 22 April 2024 19:51 , Rachael Burford

The House of Lords has started debating the Rwanda Bill and could again insist on amendments.

Home Office minister Lord Sharpe of Epsom says the Lords must “accept the will of the elected house”.

“The government is satisfied that Rwanda is safe,” he adds.

“I cannot of course predict what will happen in the future but we have established the right mechanisms so should the situation ever arise the government will respond as necessary.”

Rwanda Bill heads back to the Lords

Monday 22 April 2024 18:23 , Rachael Burford

MPs voted to reject both of the Lords amendment.

The legislation is sent back to peers for debate.

Two Tories back amendments

Monday 22 April 2024 18:03 , Rachael Burford

Two Tory MPs voted against the government and backed Lords amendments.

Both Sir Jeremy Wright, the former attorney general, and Sir Robert Buckland, the former justice secretary, supported amendment 3G, which stated that Rwanda would not be treated as safe until a monitoring committee ruled it as such.

Sir Robert was the only Tory MP to vote against the government on the amendment which would protect Afghan interpreters from deportation.

MPs reject peer amendment on Afghan interpreters

Monday 22 April 2024 17:47 , Rachael Burford

The government won the second vote by 305 votes to 234.

It means an amendment to protect Afghan interpreters, and others who have served British forces abroad, from deportation to Rwanda is rejected.

Tories 'stringing out' Rwanda Bill, suggests Labour

Monday 22 April 2024 17:44 , Rachael Burford

Conservative ministers deliberately extended the process of the Rwanda Bill to "make some grubby political capital", shadow immigration minister Stephen Kinnock suggests.

"You could be forgiven for concluding that the truth of the matter is that ministers have been deliberately stringing this out, for two reasons,” he says.

"Firstly, because they thought that they could make some grubby political capital from the delay and secondly, because they've been scrambling to get a flight organised and all the other logistics that are not in place.

"Indeed the Prime Minister admitted this in his somewhat whinging and buck-passing press conference this morning, that the first flight to Rwanda won't take off until, checks notes, July.

“I mean July, really, today is April 22, we were initially told that this was emergency legislation, and yet we're now being told there'll be a 10 to 12 week delay in getting the first flight off the ground."

Second vote begins...

Monday 22 April 2024 17:32 , Rachael Burford

MPs are now voting on the second Lords amendment.

It is the one that states people who worked with UK forces, including Afghan interpreters, should be protected from deportation to Rwanda.

MPs reject first amendment

Monday 22 April 2024 17:28 , Rachael Burford

MPs reject the first Lords amendment by 306 votes to 229.

MPs begin voting

Monday 22 April 2024 17:22 , Rachael Burford

MPs are now having the first of two votes on the amendments the House of Lords is pushing.

The first vote is on amendment 3G, which states that Rwanda will not be treated as safe until the independent monitoring committee says it is safe.

Afghans who helped UK forces will not be deported, says Minister

Monday 22 April 2024 17:13 , Rachael Burford

The government will not send those who are eligible to stay in Britain under the Afghan Relocations and Assistance Policy (ARAP) to Rwanda, Home Office minister Michael Tomlinson tells the Commons.

"Once this review of ARAP decisions for those with credible links to Afghan specialist units has concluded, 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,” he says.

Intervening Labour MP for Walthamstow Stella Creasy says a constituent of hers is not eligible for ARAP because he is a British citizen and his family are unable to join him in the UK.

She said: "If (Mr Tomlinson) takes five minutes just to read the story of my constituent who gave so much of his life to support our forces in Afghanistan, he will understand why when he stands at that despatch box and says that there are legal safe routes for those who are eminently eligible, it is simply not sustainable as an argument to make."

Mr Tomlinson said the Lords’ amendment is "unnecessary" adding: "There is already existing legislation, including but not limited to the Illegal Migration Act."

PM drinks party 'heartless and despicable', say SNP

Monday 22 April 2024 16:57 , Rachael Burford

SNP home affairs spokeswoman Alison Thewliss tells the Commons that it is “heartless and despicable” that the Tories are planning drinks in Rishi Sunak’s office tonight.

Tory Whip Simon Hart has invited Conservative MPs for drinks in the PM’s office at 9:30pm on what is expected to be a “long and historic night”.

'Beggars belief' UK would deport military allies, says Labour

Monday 22 April 2024 16:46 , Rachael Burford

Labour MP Stephen Kinnock says it "beggars belief" that the government is still considering deporting Afghans who worked with British forces in Afghanistan.

"What a disgrace," the shadow Home Office minister tells the Commons.

"Ministers should hang their heads in shame."

Agreeing the amendment which would protect people who had worked with British forces from removal would show the UK is not a country "that deports its military allies", he adds.

What do the Lords want?

Monday 22 April 2024 16:30 , Rachael Burford

Peers have refused to pass the Rwanda Bill and have dug their heels in on two issues.

1. Ensuring that Rwanda is not declared safe until an independent monitoring committee at work in the country confirms it is

2. Exempting people who have served and helped British forces abroad. They are particularly concerned about protecting Afghan interpreters who make their way to the UK from deportation Peers have submitted amendments on both points.

Opening today’s debate in the Commons, minister for illegal migration Michael Tomlinson asked MPs to reject the changes.

Rwanda debate begins

Monday 22 April 2024 16:18 , Rachael Burford

MPs have begun debating the amendments to the Rwanda Bill submitted by the Lords last week.

The Commons is expected to reject the changes requested by peers and the legislation will “ping pong” between the two houses.

Some MPs are estimating the debates will go on until the early hours of the morning.

Immigration lawyers criticise scheme

Monday 22 April 2024 16:15 , Rachael Burford

Antonia Torr, Immigration Partner at City law firm, Fladgate, says there “is no evidence that the Rwanda scheme will deter small boat crossings”.

“It is clear from the Prime Minister’s conference earlier on today that the Government believes that the Rwanda Bill will break criminal gangs profiting from illegal migration and act as a deterrent for small boat crossings,” she says.

“There is no evidence that the Rwanda scheme would deter small boat crossings at all and the Government know this – their own impact assessment says as much.

“The Prime Minister states that channel crossings are fundamentally wrong as ‘people are jumping the queue’.

“There are no legal routes for refugees to come to the UK so there is no queue.

“A better use of tax payers money would be to process the backlog of asylum applications so that those with legitimate claims could start a fresh in the United Kingdom and contribute as opposed to being left in limbo.”

United Nations warning to airlines

Monday 22 April 2024 15:26 , Rachael Burford

United Nations experts have warned airlines involved in the Rwanda deportation scheme they could be held responsible for any violations of international human rights rules.

Siobhan Mullally, Gehad Madi and Alice Jill Edwards, the special rapporteurs on human trafficking, migrants' human rights and torture, said airlines and regulators could be "complicit" in breaching the rules by facilitating removals to the African nation.

Rishi Sunak this morning used a Downing Street press conference to say that the Government had booked commercial charter plans and had an airfield on standby for the first Rwanda flight, which would take place in 10-12 weeks.

But the UN experts said: "Even if the UK-Rwanda agreement and the Safety of Rwanda Bill are approved, airlines and aviation regulators could be complicit in violating internationally protected human rights and court orders by facilitating removals to Rwanda."

The legislation, which is set to clear Parliament later, is aimed at making the plan to send asylum seekers on a one-way trip to Kigali legally watertight.

But the UN experts added: "If airlines and aviation authorities give effect to state decisions that violate human rights, they must be held responsible for their conduct.

"As the UN guiding principles on business and human rights underline, aviation regulators, international organisations and business actors are required to respect human rights."

Former Tory minister prepared for long night in Commons

Monday 22 April 2024 14:07 , Matt Watts

A Conservative former minister has said he has a sleeping bag ready for the possibility Parliament could sit through the night to pass the Safety of Rwanda (Asylum and Immigration) Bill.

Asked if he was prepared for an all-night sitting, Tim Loughton told BBC Radio 4’s World At One programme: “Absolutely, I have got the sleeping bag ready.”

The East Worthing and Shoreham MP also told the programme: “I am frustrated, I have no problem with sitting through the night to get this legislation through.

“There is a hard core led by Labour in the House of Lords who are trying to frustrate this whole legislation without any credible alternative that would deal with those people coming here without any credible asylum claim who cannot be returned to their home country.

“It is incumbent on them to say what they would do and they haven’t, so let the legislation through and let’s see how it works.”

Labour would focus on boosting border security and targeting criminal gangs, says Yvette Cooper

Monday 22 April 2024 12:02 , Lydia Chantler-Hicks

Asked if a Labour government would scrap the Rwanda scheme even if it was working, shadow home secretary Yvette Cooper said: “This is an extortionate scheme that has failed just like the previous two laws that the Conservatives have passed on this, and it is why neither the current Home Secretary nor the former home secretary think this is going to work.

“That is why Labour is calling for this money to be put into boosting our border security with a new cross-border police and new counter-terror-style powers to go after the criminal gangs instead.”

Labour's Yvette Cooper criticises 'extortionate' Rwanda plan

Monday 22 April 2024 12:01 , Lydia Chantler-Hicks

Rishi Sunak could have passed the Rwanda plan through Parliament much sooner, but “always looks for someone else to blame”, Labour has said.

Asked if Labour was blocking the Bill, shadow home secretary Yvette Cooper said: “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% 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.”

Rwanda plan likely to make asylum system chaos worse, says Refugee Council

Monday 22 April 2024 11:48 , Lydia Chantler-Hicks

The government’s Rwanda plan is unlikely to work as a deterrent, the Refugee Council has said, describing it as something which will “only compound the chaos within our asylum system, all at an exorbitant cost to taxpayers”.

Enver Solomon, the council’s chief executive, said: “Even if, as the Prime Minister asserts, there is to be ‘a regular rhythm of multiple flights every month’, this will still only correspond to at most a few thousand people a year out of tens of thousands.

“Instead of giving these people a fair hearing on UK soil to determine if they have a protection need, the Government will have to look after them indefinitely, at considerable cost.

“Despite the Prime Minister’s renewed claims about deterrence, we know from the Home Office’s own research, as well as our own, that policies such as the Rwanda plan don’t actually work as a deterrent, and people seeking asylum have said they won’t stop coming to the UK to find safety.

“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.”

Lim Dem leader slams Rwanda plan as a 'colossal failure'

Monday 22 April 2024 11:40 , Lydia Chantler-Hicks

The Rwanda plan is a “colossal failure” and Rishi Sunak should call an election, Sir Ed Davey has said.

The Liberal Democrat leader said: “No amount of soundbites or spin can change the fact that the Conservatives’ 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.”

Rwandan president 'completely committed to plan', says Sunak

Monday 22 April 2024 11:27 , Lydia Chantler-Hicks

Rishi Sunak says Rwandan president Paul Kagame is “completely committed” to the UK’s plan, amid reports homes marked for migrants in Rwanda had been sold off.

Asked about the sale, the Prime Minister said: “Paul is completely committed to making this partnership work.

“Whenever we have needed something from them or we have had to address concerns that have been raised by our courts, they have been willing to work with us. We have done it constructively and collaboratively.”

UK 'can't keep playing whack-a-mole' with illegal migrants, says PM

Monday 22 April 2024 11:05 , Lydia Chantler-Hicks

Mr Sunak described the UK’s current tactic of dealing with illegal migrants as a “whack-a-mole strategy”.

He says there has been an increase this year in people illegally migrating to the UK from Vietnam, following a surge in illegal migrants from Albania in recent years.

“We dealt with the Albanians, we will deal with illegal migrants from Vietnam,” he said.

“But we can’t keep playing this whack-a-mole strategy, dealing with it in a piecemeal fashion.

“You need a systematic deterrent. That’s why the Rwanda scheme is so important.”

'Scheme is radical but that's what is needed," PM says

Monday 22 April 2024 10:58 , Lydia Chantler-Hicks

“If you’re prepared...to be bold when it comes to solutions like Rwanda, you can get a grip on [illegal migration],” Mr Sunak has told reporters.

“Yes it’s novel, I get that,” he said.

“Yes, it’s radical, but that’s what the situation demands.”

'I'm not going to let a foreign court block us', says Sunak

Monday 22 April 2024 10:54 , Lydia Chantler-Hicks

Asked if the UK will have to leave the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR) in order to push through the Rwanda plans, Mr Sunak said: “I’m confident that we’re acting in a way that is completely compliant with all our international obligation.

“We’re a reasonable people trying to do a reasonable thing,” he said.

But he added that his patience has “worn pretty thin”, and added: “Now’s the time for the flights to go.

“I’m not going to let a foreign court block us from...getting the flights up and running.”

PM refuses to specify number likely to be flown to Rwanda, but stresses 'multiple flights' will leave monthly

Monday 22 April 2024 10:50 , Lydia Chantler-Hicks

Asked by a reporter about Prime Minister has declined to go into details about the exact numbers of migrants who are expected to be deported to Rwanda.

He instead stressed the “enormous amount of prep work” that has gone into the scheme, including booking planes for the first flights to Rwanda.

But he added: “This is not just about one flight. This is about...multiple flights every month through the summer and beyond, because that’s how you build a sustainable deterrent.

“It’s about putting a system in place...until the boats have stopped. That’s what our plans will deliver.”

'Systematic deterrent' needed to crack down on people smuggling, says PM

Monday 22 April 2024 10:44 , Lydia Chantler-Hicks

Mr Sunak says “a systematic deterrent” is needed to clamp down on criminal gangs behind the “deplorable” trade of people smuggling.

“The only way to stop the boats is to eliminate the incentive to come, by making it clear that if you arrive here illegally you will not be able to stay,” he said.

Sunak says there will be 'regular rhythm' of flights to Rwanda 'until the boats are stopped

Monday 22 April 2024 10:42 , Lydia Chantler-Hicks

The Prime Minister says that beginning in 10 to 12 weeks’ time, there will be a “regular rhythm of multiple flights [to Rwanda] every month...until the boats are stopped”.

'No foreign government will stop us from getting flights off', says Sunak

Monday 22 April 2024 10:40 , Lydia Chantler-Hicks

The Prime Minister says the first flight to Rwanda “will leave in 10 to 12 weeks”.

“We’ve put an airfield on standby, booked commercial charter planes...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 said.

He described it as “one of the most complex operational endeavours the Home Office has carried out”.

“These flights will go come what may,” he said.

“No foreign court will stop us from getting flights off.”

'Enough is enough' says Sunak as press conference begins

Monday 22 April 2024 10:37 , Lydia Chantler-Hicks

Rishi Sunak has begun his press conference.

He says after opponents have “used every trick in the book” to block the Rwanda bill and flights, “enough is enough”.

Rwanda is a 'safe country', Sunak tells illegal migration operations committee

Monday 22 April 2024 10:36 , Lydia Chantler-Hicks

Rishi Sunak told a meeting of the Government’s illegal migration operations committee this morning that the Safety of Rwanda (Asylum and Immigration) Bill sends a “clear message” illegal migrants will not be able to stay in the UK.

He told the committee said there must be “no more delay”.

He added Rwanda is a “safe country”, and said his “landmark legislation” comes after “months and months of hard work and planning”.

“This bill sends a clear message; if you come here illegally, you won’t be able to stay,” he said.

Deputy Prime Minister Oliver Dowden, Defence Secretary Grant Shapps and Home Secretary James Cleverly were also present at the meeting.

Press conference pushed back slightly

Monday 22 April 2024 10:33 , Lydia Chantler-Hicks

The Prime Minister is now due to give his press conference around 10.35am.

Sunak pictured meeting with Illegal Migration Operations Committee at Downing Street

Monday 22 April 2024 10:32 , Lydia Chantler-Hicks

Rishi Sunak has met with members of the Illegal Migration Operations Committee at Downing Street this morning, ahead of his imminent press conference and tonight’s attempt to get the Rwanda bill through Parliament.

PM's press conference comes ahead of crucial night in Parliament for Rwanda bill

Monday 22 April 2024 10:21 , Lydia Chantler-Hicks

Weeks of parliamentary back-and-forth are set to come to a head tonight.

The Government has vowed to keep Parliament sitting late into the night, if necessary, to pass the Rwanda bill, which it sees as vital to the Prime Minister’s pledge to “stop the boats”.

Peers have repeatedly blocked the legislation with a series of amendments, stretching debate on the “emergency legislation” over more than four months and delaying flights taking asylum seekers to Rwanda.

Downing Street is hostile to the idea of making concessions to secure the passage of the Bill, leading to a deadlock with the Lords.

The Bill is intended to overcome the objections of the Supreme Court, by forcing judges to treat Rwanda as a safe country for asylum seekers and allowing ministers to ignore emergency injunctions from the European Court of Human Rights.

Last week saw peers amend the Bill yet again to include an exemption for Afghan nationals who assisted British troops and a provision meaning Rwanda could not be treated as safe unless it was deemed so by an independent monitoring body.

This evening, MPs are expected to vote to overturn those changes before sending the Bill back to the House of Lords, where some peers may attempt to insist on their amendments again.

If so, the Bill would return to the Commons late tonight for a further vote and then return once again to the Lords in a process known as “ping pong”, which could last well past the Commons’ usual 10.30pm finish.

Rishi Sunak to give press conference as Rwanda bill returns to Parliament

Monday 22 April 2024 10:16 , Lydia Chantler-Hicks

Rishi Sunak is to hold a press conference at 10.30am, where he will set out plans for getting flights carrying asylum seekers to Rwanda off the ground.

Deputy Foreign Secretary Andrew Mitchell told ITV’s Good Morning Britain the Prime Minister will give details of the “operational plan”.

Mr Mitchell said the Government’s illegal migration operations committee is meeting at No 10 this morning.

“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.

We’ll be bringing you all you need to know as the Prime Minister’s delivers his announcement on the controversial scheme.