Rwanda Bill latest: Flights given green light as Lords cave on Rishi Sunak’s plan to deport asylum seekers

Illegal Migration Minister Michael Tomlinson MP told Sky News that the Government expects the flights to depart in 10-12 weeks after the Rwanda bill was passed in the Commons last night.

He said: “We need to make sure the treaty is ratified, the bill receives royal assent and becomes an act of Parliament.

“It is inevitable I’m afraid there are going to be challenges.

“It is inevitable that people are going to throw everything at this to try and stop this plan from working.

“We saw last night from the Labour Party and the Labour lords more determined to stop the flights. We are determined to stop the boats.”

Human rights organisations have condemned prime minister Rishi Sunak’s flagship immigration bill to deport asylum seekers to Rwanda after it finally won approval from the parliament.

Freedom from Torture, Amnesty International and Liberty, criticised the British government for ignoring the findings of the supreme court, which had ruled the policy unlawful.

“We all deserve the chance to live a safe life, and to seek protection when we need it most. This shameful Bill trashes the constitution and international law whilst putting torture survivors and other refugees at risk of an unsafe future in Rwanda,” a spokesperson for the organisations said.

“No matter how many times the prime minister says so, we know this is not the will of the people.

“Caring people up and down the UK want to see men, women and children who’ve fled war, persecution and torture given protection and security, so they can recover and rebuild their lives in safety

.“Instead of punishing people who’ve already been through so much, we need compassionate and protection-focused policies.”

A BBC live report from the beaches of Calais shows a small boat attempting to cross the Channel hours after the landmark bill was passed.

The small boat can be seen in the live broadcast “turning back and forth” trying to avoid the attention of a French military boat as a spotter plane flies overhead.

BBC Home Affairs Correspondent Tom Symonds in Calais describes a “pitched battle” between 60 migrants and French police as they rush to try and get their dinghy in the sea.

He said: “This is ramping up the pressure and confrontation levels between the migrants and the police trying to stop them. As a spotter plane goes above us again.”

The BBC is reporting that Rishi Sunak believes the Government will be able to start deportations to Rwanda by July.

Chief political correspondent Henry Zeffman told BBC Breakfast: “Legal obstacles have stopped him before. The Supreme Court has called the policy unworkable. People are preparing legal challenges to oppose deportations already. How will they progress?

“And does this policy do what it says on the tin? It’s designed to act as a deterrent to stop people making that journey across the Channel.

“If Rishi Sunak does get a flight off in July or a constant rhythm of flight as he puts it the question becomes will it do what he says it will will it stop making people making that journey.”

The Prime Minister has said “nothing will stand in our way” of getting flights off the ground after the Government’s Rwanda deportation plan passed through Parliament.

In a statement Rishi Sunak said: “The passing of this landmark legislation is not just a step forward but a fundamental change in the global equation on migration.

“We introduced the Rwanda Bill to deter vulnerable migrants from making perilous crossings and break the business model of the criminal gangs who exploit them.

“The passing of this legislation will allow us to do that and make it very clear that if you come here illegally, you will not be able to stay.

“Our focus is to now get flights off the ground, and I am clear that nothing will stand in our way of doing that and saving lives.”

New polling has found that Sir Keir Starmer beat Rishi Sunak on all 17 aspects of leadership put to respondents, including on building a strong economy and relationships with foreign leaders.

Rishi Sunak has pledged to get flights to Rwanda in the air by July, despite the threat of legal challenges and delays even if he does manage to force the controversial asylum bill through parliament overnight.

The prime minister insisted asylum seekers will be sent to the east African nation in 10 to 12 weeks “come what may” and that regular trips will take place over the summer.

But he faced an agonising final hurdle of ping-pong between MPs and the House of Lords, and the upper house will spend the evening trying to exact two key amendments.

Holly Bancroft and Archie Mitchell report

Home secretary James Cleverly called passage of the bill a “landmark moment in our plan to stop the boats”.

“The Act will prevent people abusing the law by using false human rights claims to block removals,” he said in a video posted on X.

Mr Cleverly continued: “It makes it clear that the UK parliament is sovereign, giving the government the power to reject interim blocking measures imposed by European courts.

“I promised to do what was necessary to clear the path for the first flight. That’s what we have done.”

“Now we’re working day in and day out to get flights off the ground.”