Sunak says 'nothing will stand in our way' of Rwanda flights after bill passes - BBC News
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"Can This Really Stop Boats? Dover Residents Doubtful"
A journalist from BBC News stationed in Dover
In Dover, a lot of individuals are doubtful about the effectiveness of flights to Rwanda in putting an end to boats.
Ever since the influx of people crossing the borders started about five years ago, multiple leaders in the UK government, including prime ministers, home secretaries, and immigration ministers, have made commitments to tackle and resolve the issue.
There were discussions about sending boats back while they were in the ocean - that was deemed too risky.
The Channel was monitored by the military, but some people said that the Ministry of Defence only helped migrants like a taxi. Somebody even suggested using a wave machine in the water.
The approval of the Rwanda bill has been hailed as a significant event by the government. Locals are referring to it as a point in time when reality prevailed.
Sunak Assures Rwanda Flights Won't Face Obstacles
This morning, Prime Minister Rishi Sunak made the announcement that the bill had passed. He referred to it as a "landmark" moment and stated that it is not only a step forward, but a significant transformation in the global equation regarding migration.
According to him, the proposal was brought forward to dissuade at-risk migrants from embarking on dangerous journeys and disrupt the unlawful organizations that take advantage of them. He also stated that the legislation will establish the message that "if you enter the country without permission, you cannot remain here."
"Our primary objective is currently to ensure the swift takeoff of flights, and I am completely committed to achieving this goal, no matter what obstacles we may face in our mission to preserve human lives," he expressed.
No Migrant Plane Taking Off Soon
A correspondent who works from home and specializes in legal matters.
The UK Parliament has recently given approval to the Rwanda bill, a proposal to transfer asylum seekers in the UK to Africa for processing. This proposal has faced legal and political resistance for the past couple of years. When can we expect the first flight heading to Kigali to take off?
We can say that the government planes' engines will not make any noise today.
Although the bill has been approved by Parliament, the shortest amount of time required before a flight can depart is 12 days from the moment the King grants his royal approval. This act is what officially transforms the bill into law.
It is highly probable that the inaugural flight will take place at a later date. This was recently announced by Prime Minister Rishi Sunak who stated that the earliest possible date would be in 10 to 12 weeks, indicating that it may occur in late June or early July.
During a press conference on Monday, Mr Sunak acknowledged that the government would not meet its Spring deadline for a departure, saying "that is a later date than we had hoped for." However, he emphasized that the administration has always been transparent about the fact that handling such matters will require a considerable amount of time.
After a long and difficult process lasting several months, the legislation proposed by Rishi Sunak pertaining to Rwanda will soon be officially enacted.
There was a long struggle between the Commons and House of Lords that finally ended past midnight, resulting in the passage of the legislation. The peers had sent the bill back to MPs five times before it was finally approved.
If you're one of those who overslept and didn't catch up with what happened last night, stay tuned as we provide you with a rundown and the most recent responses. You may also refer to our article for additional information.
Sunak announced that flights bound for Rwanda will depart in around 2-3 months, which is later than he initially planned for in the spring. Nevertheless, legal obstacles may still impede the implementation of the initiative.
Sunak's Pledge To Halt Boats Depends On Plan's Success
Eventually, there wasn't a prolonged sitting that lasted throughout the night.
Fellow lawmakers have agreed to pass the Safety of Rwanda Bill, acknowledging the decision of the elected House of Commons.
They strongly opposed the government's intention to send asylum seekers to Rwanda on a one-way flight, citing issues related to both practicality and principle.
The parties that disagree have mentioned that it is an impractical and costly trick.
Despite numerous obstacles, Rishi Sunak has achieved a significant political triumph.
Whether or not his promise to prevent small boats from crossing the channel will come to fruition is dependent on the success of this proposed strategy.
His schedule for commencing flights has already been postponed until the summer season and there is a possibility of facing additional legal obstacles.
Right now, the big question is whether or not this recently passed law will actually stop people from doing bad things, like the politicians who helped put it in place are saying. Sunak, who is running for office soon, doesn't have a lot of time to show whether the law is actually working or not.
Our live coverage will be temporarily halted in the near future. However, before we depart, it is imperative to recall key advancements that have arisen:
If you want to know more about the Rwanda bill, you can find additional information in our primary piece over at this location.
According to our legal expert Dominic Casciani, although the bill has been approved by Parliament, we should not expect to witness any flights departing for Rwanda tomorrow.
The BBC correspondent Barbara Plett Usher recently visited certain hostels in Rwanda that are scheduled to accommodate the migrants who are not being accepted by the UK. You can learn more about her visit by reading the article linked here.
Rwanda Uneasy About Arrival Of UK Migrants
BBC's journalist stationed in Rwanda, serving as a correspondent for Africa news.
For 664 days, the Hope Hostel located in Rwanda has been available to provide accommodations for migrants who have been rejected by Britain.
Currently, the UK government is striving to have the law passed while the Rwandan government aims to occupy these vacant chambers and corridors within a few weeks.
Rwanda has mostly stayed away from the legal dispute in the United Kingdom about the contentious scheme to expel refugees to their nation in East Africa.
The human rights record of Kigali has come under scrutiny in UK courts, with calls being made for greater safeguards for individuals who are sent there.
Since June 2022, Rwanda has been thoroughly preparing for their arrival, which was two months after the agreement was made.
I visited the hostel in the capital city, Kigali, and it was strangely empty.
Bill Endangers Rule Of Law, Says Rights Groups
The recently approved Rwanda bill has also triggered a response from organizations advocating for the protection of human rights.
According to Freedom from Torture, Amnesty International, and Liberty, the proposal is a major risk to the legal system as it weakens the safeguards that prevent the state from exploiting its power and abusing citizens.
The individuals are condemning the administration for disregarding the decision of the highest court in November, which deemed the approach illegal.
A representative for the groups declared: "Each one of us has the right to a secure existence, as well as to request safeguarding measures during times of crisis.
This bill is deplorable as it disregards both the constitution and international law, jeopardizing the safety of torture victims and other refugees by sending them to a potentially hazardous future in Rwanda.
Cleverly Hails Rwanda Bill As Landmark Moment
We have received an update from Home Secretary James Cleverly who regards the approval of the bill by Parliament as a significant milestone in our strategy to end the boat journeys.
According to Cleverly, as seen in a video shared on social media, the latest legislation will put an end to individuals misusing the law by making fraudulent claims about human rights in order to prevent deportations.
According to him, the legislation in Rwanda states that the ultimate decision-making authority lies with the UK Parliament. As a result, the government can refuse to comply with temporary restrictions that have been introduced by European courts.
I made a commitment to do all that was needed to make way for the inaugural flight. We have successfully fulfilled that commitment.
Currently, we are exerting ourselves every single day to ensure that our flights take off as scheduled.
"No Rwanda Flight Soon: Plane Won't Depart"
Home and legal correspondent A correspondent who specializes in reporting on legal matters and domestic issues is known as a home and legal correspondent. This type of journalist is responsible for providing in-depth coverage of court cases and legal proceedings, as well as offering insights into the latest developments in domestic policies and social issues. Home and legal correspondents are often tasked with covering high-profile cases that captivate national attention, such as trials of celebrities or politically charged controversies. They must have a solid understanding of the law and be able to translate legal jargon for the average reader. Additionally, they must keep up-to-date on legislative changes that occur frequently. In addition to covering legal topics, home and legal correspondents report on a range of domestic issues, such as education, health care, family and social welfare. They may interview sources, conduct research, and travel to locations to get first-hand experience with the topic at hand. Ultimately, they play a crucial role in informing the public about important legal and social developments that impact their lives.
After facing numerous legal conflicts and political struggles for two years, the Rwanda bill has been sanctioned by Parliament.
When will a flight to Kigali depart? It seems like the government's aircraft won't be flying tomorrow. The planes will not be using their engines.
Although the bill was passed by Parliament already, the earliest a flight can depart is, according to technical terms, 12 days after the King has granted formal approval, officially transforming it into a law.
The initial voyage is expected to occur later than expected as mentioned by Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, who stated that it would take around 10 to 12 weeks, with a possible time frame of late June or early July.
Only individuals who are seeking asylum in the UK and have arrived without permission from a safe nation are eligible to be sent to Rwanda.
This basically refers to individuals who have used a small boat to travel across the body of water separating England and France.
It's important to emphasize that the government hasn't yet determined if these individuals are actually refugees - they intend to have their legal claim for protection assessed in Rwanda. There are currently 52,000 people included in this group.
Ping-pong Battle Ends: Success!
Following a lengthy struggle between the House of Commons and the House of Lords, the Safety of Rwanda Bill proposed by the government will finally receive the Royal Assent, thus turning it into an official law.
Tonight, members of the House of Lords sent the proposed legislation back to the House of Commons for the fifth occasion. However, the Commons once again dismissed the amendment put forward by the Lords.
After a tough evening of back-and-forth between members of parliament, it seemed like the debate could have gone on indefinitely. However, in the final moments, the opposition conceded that it was time to give up their fight.
Regardless of the strong disapproval expressed by opposing political parties and members of the House of Lords, the government has succeeded in achieving its goals.
The law mandates judges to consider Rwanda as a secure place and grants authority to ministers to overlook urgent orders.
During a speech in Downing Street earlier today, Rishi Sunak expressed that the bill had been the subject of debate in parliament for an excessive amount of time.
The official approval of the Rwanda bill has been granted.
This hasn't become a law yet. The Lords decided not to propose any more changes once the MPs dismissed the last and ultimate modification made by the Lords.
The bill is set to move towards receiving Royal Assent, but it won't occur tonight. After that, it will turn into a legal act.
"Leave The Battle: Lord Anderson's Call"
Lord Anderson, a peer from the crossbench, declares that his amendment was the only one that remained valid.
He states that numerous individuals may have wanted us to continue battling, but he contends that there would have been no rationale behind it.
According to him, the point of playing parliamentary ping pong is to convince the government to reach a middle ground, but unfortunately, they have declined to do so.
He declares that it is time to acknowledge that the elected house is of utmost importance and to step back from any conflict.
Lords Must Respect Elected House's Will
Representing the government, Lord Sharpe of Epsom has spoken up about the scrutinization of the bill. He has made it clear that despite the Lords amendments, the government has decided to reject them.
He contends that the members of the House of Lords should now acknowledge the decision made by the parliamentary representatives who were democratically voted into office.
Rwanda Bill To Pass With No Amendments
We have received information that no more changes will be proposed, indicating that the disagreement has concluded and the Rwanda Bill will be approved.
Nicholas Watt, the political editor for Newsnight, recently tweeted the declaration, "It has come to an end."
It is anticipated that the Lords will have a brief discussion wherein the opposition will be waived, leading to the bill not requiring any further action.
Lords To Debate Again At 23:45
In approximately 15 minutes, the House of Lords is anticipated to continue their discussion on the Rwanda bill, which was returned by the Commons after declining an alteration.
As we've informed you previously, the revision proposed would have necessitated the home secretary seeking advice from an impartial supervisory organization to assess the safety status of the nation.
Will The Lords Collapse?
The original inventory of changes suggested by the Lords for this legislation has been reduced to only one.
However, Home Office minister Michael Tomlinson remained firm in his stance, and the Conservatives had enough support to reject the suggested amendment with a vote of 312 to 237.
It appears that the conflict of determination is coming to a close in the House of Lords.
Everyone is now focused on Lord Anderson in this fifth round of table tennis between the Labour and Conservative parties.
It’s ultimately his responsibility to determine if he has conveyed his message to the government or if he decides to introduce another version of his amendment and prolongs the debate into the late hours.
Rwanda Bill Back To House Of Lords
Members of Parliament (MPs) have given their approval for the motion to create a committee, with a majority of 309 votes in favor and 41 votes against it.
The proposed legislation for Rwanda is returning to the House of Lords so they can discuss the final amendment once more.
Members of Parliament are currently in the process of voting on the proposal to establish a committee that will explain the grounds for which the House of Lords' proposed amendment was dismissed. This act of setting up the committee marks the following phase to send the legislation back to the House of Lords.
Remain in our company and anticipate the outcome, which is expected to be unveiled in approximately five minutes.
The members of parliament have decided to dismiss the proposal made by the House of Lords, being supported by 74 votes more than the opposing side, and now the bill concerning Rwanda has to go back to the House of Lords.
312 people voted in favor, while 237 individuals expressed their opposition.
