UK deportation flights to Rwanda will take off 'come what may': PM Sunak

 

Britain's Prime Minister Rishi Sunak speaks during a press conference, on April 22, regarding the Britain and Rwanda treaty to transfer illegal migrants to the African country. (Photo: Toby Melville/ AFP)

As the plan moves into the final stages of parliament, UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak pledged on Monday that deportation flights carrying asylum seekers to Rwanda will commence in "10 to 12 weeks".

 

"We are ready, plans are in place and these flights will go, come what may," Sunak told a Downing Street news conference, hours before parliament is set to approve the contentious proposal.

 

Sunak says it is essential to deter record numbers of asylum seekers crossing the Channel to England from France in small boats and has made it a key pillar of his Conservative party's pitch to voters.

Sunak stated that after weeks of back-and-forth between its two chambers, parliament would finally approve a bill into law regarding the safety of Rwanda for asylum seekers later on Monday.

"Enough is enough. No more prevarication. No more delay," Sunak told reporters, adding that he envisaged "multiple" flights a month over the summer months.

 

The UK is due to go to the polls in a general election later this year.

 

when 14 years in power, the main opposition Labour party is likely to trounce the Tories, who promised stricter immigration when the UK exited the European Union.

 

But since Boris Johnson, the party's prime minister, initially put up the plan in May 2022, it has been beset by problems and legal hurdles.

So far no migrants have been sent to Rwanda.

- Amendments -

 

The legislation is Sunak's answer to a Supreme Court ruling last year that sending migrants to Rwanda was illegal under international law.

 

The new bill would compel judges to regard the east African nation as a safe third country and gives ministers the power to disregard sections of international and British human rights law.

 

The government has said it will not concede to two amendments sought by the unelected upper chamber House of Lords when members of the elected House of Commons lower chambers considers them on Monday afternoon.

 

One seeks exemption from deportation for people who worked with the UK military overseas, such as Afghan interpreters.

 

The other asks that an independent monitor be established to determine whether Rwanda is in fact safe.

 

Lords are expected to concede defeat at some point, recognising that they are unelected and their roles are largely focused on scrutinising legislation and proposing amendments. 

Later this week, the measure is anticipated to be formally enacted into law upon receiving royal approval.

 

According to Sunak, commercial charter planes have been reserved for the maiden flight, and an airfield has been placed on standby by the government.

 

He promised several flights in a "regular rhythm" throughout the summer and beyond, "Until the boats have stopped".

 

More than 120,000 people have crossed the Channel on rudimentary vessels since 2018, when the government started recording numbers, and dozens have died, according to monitors.

Source: AFP