The first flights deporting asylum seekers to Rwanda will take off in 10 to 12 weeks Rishi Sunak has announced – missing his original spring target.
A five-month battle over the Rwanda bill continued on Monday evening, as the Lords refused to back down on demands for one last change.
Mr Sunak earlier promised to keep MPs and Lords late into the night on Monday to pass his flagship Rwanda Bill.
“No ifs, no buts, these flights are going to Rwanda,” he said.
Last week, peers demanded two changes to the bill – for an independent monitoring committee to be put in place and for exemptions for Afghans who’d assisted the British military.
That meant the bill was sent back to the House of Commons on Monday afternoon.
The minister for illegal migration Michael Tomlinson refused to accept the changes, saying he was “disappointed” to be voting on the bill for a third time.
“Enough is enough,” he said. “We must get on with it.”
The Commons voted to reject both amendments, voting 306 to 229 on calls for a monitoring committee, and 305 to 234 on exempting Afghans who had assisted the British military.
Back in the House of Lords later on Monday evening, peers decided to drop the demand on Afghan veterans.
Home Office Minister Lord Sharpe announced there would be independent reassessment of claims with “credible links” to Afghan special forces and verified claims would be exempt from deportation.
However, peers stood firm on their demand for independent and ongoing verification of the status of the east African country as safe.
Crossbencher Lord Anderson said: “We’re being asked to complicit in a present-day untruth and a future fantasy.”
His amendment was approved by a majority of 29 votes, with 240 to 211, and the bill was sent back to the Commons. – BBC.
