PM promises summer Rwanda flights as wrangles over bill continue

View: Prime Minister Rishi Sunak claims that those against the bill have utilized "all the tactics at their disposal."

Written by Jennifer McKiernan and Sam Francis As our society becomes increasingly dependent on technology, it's important to recognize the potential negative effects it can have on our mental health. While technology has certainly improved our lives in many ways, such as making communication faster and more accessible, it has also created new stressors and distractions that can contribute to feelings of anxiety and depression. It's important to find a balance between using technology for its benefits and taking breaks from it to prioritize our mental well-being. One way to do this is by practicing mindfulness and being present in the moment, instead of constantly checking our phones or scrolling through social media. Additionally, setting boundaries for technology use, such as not checking emails after a certain time or turning off notifications, can help reduce stress and anxiety. Overall, it's important to be aware of the impact technology can have on our mental health and take proactive steps to protect it. By finding a healthy balance and prioritizing our well-being, we can fully enjoy the benefits of technology without suffering the consequences.

Journalists who cover political affairs and work for BBC News.

Rishi Sunak, in his original plan, announced that the first flights to deport asylum seekers to Rwanda would take off in the spring. However, he has now shared an update that the flights will now happen in the coming 10 to 12 weeks.

The Rwanda bill has been a hot topic for five months now, and the Lords are still determined to make one more amendment despite the ongoing debate.

Earlier, Mr. Sunak vowed to keep the members of Parliament and House of Lords working late on Monday in order to ensure that his key legislation, the Rwanda Bill, was successfully passed.

"No exceptions, these flights will proceed to Rwanda," he declared.

The previous week, colleagues requested two revisions to the proposed law - the creation of an autonomous supervision panel and exclusions for Afghan nationals who supported the British armed forces.

This indicated that the legislative proposal was returned to the lower house of the Parliament on the afternoon of Monday.

The bill regarding illegal migration received opposition from Michael Tomlinson, who currently holds the position of the minister for this matter. He expressed his dissatisfaction with the proposed modifications and was not willing to vote for it again, as it would be the third time.

"That's it," he exclaimed. "We must proceed immediately."

The Commons cast their votes and denied the two amendments with 306 votes against the monitoring committee and 229 for it, and 234 against the exemption for Afghans who aided the British military and 305 for it.

Later on Monday evening, the members of the House of Lords decided to abandon the request for Afghan veterans.

The Home Office Minister Lord Sharpe has declared that there will be a separate evaluation of allegations linked to the Afghan special forces. Individuals with substantiated claims will not be expelled.

Nevertheless, colleagues remained steadfast in their insistence for autonomous and continuous confirmation of the condition of the east African nation as secure.

Lord Anderson, who belongs to no political party, expressed his discontent by saying that he refuses to participate in supporting a current lie and a hypothetical falsehood that could occur in the future.

A large number of 240 voted in favour of his proposal, with a majority of 29 votes over those who opposed it, numbering at 211. As a result of this development, the bill was sent back to the Commons.

UK's Rwanda Asylum Bill Update

During a press conference at Downing Street on Monday morning, Mr Sunak announced that the initial flight will take off in a span of 10 to 12 weeks.

Naturally, the timing is not ideal and we had hoped to begin earlier. However, we have consistently communicated that the process would require a significant amount of time. Unfortunately, members of the Labour Party in the House of Lords purposefully delayed the bill for several weeks in an attempt to prevent these flights altogether. Had they not done so, we would have been able to initiate this process much earlier.

According to Mr. Sunak, the administration has readied a landing strip and obtained reserved time slots for charter planes to make certain that flights depart successfully.

He mentioned that he will work on several flights every month during the summer. The reason for doing so is to establish a consistent deterrent and prevent the boats from coming.

Mr Sunak announced that measures were being taken to ensure a smooth take off for the first flights. He mentioned that the Home Office had been making preparations to expand the asylum process, which involved creating additional space.

The leader of the country declared that there are now 2,200 places available in immigration detention centers to accommodate asylum seekers being sent to Rwanda. However, this number is insufficient to house a small portion of the 52,000 individuals marked for expulsion by the government's proposed measures.

Yvette Cooper, who is the Shadow Home Secretary, refuted the claim that Labour is obstructing the bill. She mentioned that the government possesses an absolute majority in Parliament and could have easily passed the bill a month prior if it was scheduled accordingly.

According to Ms. Cooper, instead of spending "500 million pounds on a program that will solely benefit 1% of asylum seekers," the Labour Party would strengthen border security.

The spokesperson for the opposition on home affairs suggested that the government ought to utilize the funds to enhance safety measures at the border.

According to Sir Ed Davey, the leader of the Liberal Democrats, the Conservatives' plan for Rwanda has been a complete disaster regardless of any attempts to sugarcoat or manipulate the information.

Many pounds and several years of government focus have been squandered without any productive outcome.

The bill has caused a long-lasting dispute between the Lords and the Commons and it's now reaching its climax.

Andrew Mitchell, a high-ranking minister in the Foreign Office, was asked his opinion about setting up a committee to monitor Rwanda's safety. Mitchell criticized recent discussions in the Upper House about Rwanda's legal system, stating that he found them condescending and possibly even racist.

According to Mr. Mitchell, the government in Rwanda has undergone an impressive transformation in the past 3 decades, considering that it was on the brink of utter destruction due to the genocide.

He stated that Kigali may be considered to be a safer place than London.

He stated that the Lords who are tasked with reviewing laws should now acknowledge the decision made by the chamber with elected representatives.

Lord Carlile, a lawmaker belonging to the House of Lords, expressed his disagreement with the Rwanda proposal during an interview with BBC Radio 4's Today program. He stated that he and his colleagues would persist in their efforts to make amendments and were not willing to compromise on their stance.

He stated that Rwanda has not yet fulfilled the agreement it made with the UK in reference to the treaty signed in December.

'Enduringly Essential'

Mr Sunak's strategy to prevent illegal immigration through small boats crossing the Channel involves the implementation of the Rwanda Bill, which he believes will serve as a strong discouragement for individuals attempting to make this risky voyage.

The new law would greatly reduce the reasons for legal disputes regarding the Rwanda plan and grant authority to ministers to overlook specific human rights regulations.

The program was initially launched on April 14, 2022, by the then-leader of the United Kingdom, Boris Johnson. Nonetheless, not a single person seeking asylum has been relocated to Rwanda, a centrally located landlocked nation in Africa that is roughly 4,000 miles (6,500km) away from the United Kingdom.

The inaugural Rwanda flight faced legal obstacles and had to be canceled abruptly just before takeoff in June 2022.

The initial air travel had been planned to take off on June 2022, but was scrapped due to legal disputes.

In November 2023, there was another setback when the UK's highest court, the Supreme Court, declared the Rwanda plan to be illegal by a unanimous decision.

Following the decision made by the Supreme Court, the government introduced the Safety of Rwanda bill as "emergency legislation." The main objective of this bill is to establish in UK law that Rwanda is a country that is secure.

Opponents argue that implementing the plan could endanger individuals, and that the law undermines the autonomy of the judiciary.