Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has issued a stern warning to peers in parliament, urging them to “calm down” and allow the Rwanda bill to clear parliament without further delay. In a surprise press conference at Downing Street, Sunak announced that flights to Rwanda have been booked and are set to take off in 10-12 weeks, with the first flight carrying asylum seekers scheduled for July.
The Rwanda bill, which has faced repeated blockages and amendments from peers in the House of Lords, aims to treat Rwanda as a safe country for asylum seekers and allow ministers to bypass emergency injunctions from the European Court of Human Rights. Despite the challenges faced in passing the legislation, Sunak emphasized the urgency of the situation and the need to deport asylum seekers to Rwanda.
The Prime Minister’s strong stance on the issue comes as MPs are expected to vote on overturning the amendments made by the House of Lords and sending the bill back for further consideration. Sunak warned that there will be no concessions on the legislation, emphasizing the need for a “regular rhythm” of deportation flights starting in the coming months.
Peers have been pushing for exemptions for asylum seekers who served alongside UK forces overseas, but Sunak has stood firm in his commitment to deporting asylum seekers to Rwanda. The Prime Minister’s message to peers was clear: “Enough is enough… flights are going to Rwanda,” he declared.
As the Rwanda bill returns to parliament for further debate and voting, the fate of asylum seekers and the future of deportation flights hang in the balance. Sunak’s call for peers to “calm down” and allow the bill to pass without further delay sets the stage for a crucial showdown in the coming days.