UK Parliament Passes Controversial Rwanda Deportation Bill Amid Stand-off

The UK Parliament has finally passed the controversial Rwanda Deportation Bill after a prolonged stand-off between the House of Lords and the House of Commons. Chancellor Rishi Sunak, who spearheaded the bill, announced that the first flights deporting asylum seekers to Rwanda will take off in 10 to 12 weeks, missing the original spring target.

A five-month battle over the Rwanda bill continued on Monday afternoon, with MPs voting down suggested changes sent by the Lords last week. Michael Tomlinson, the minister for illegal migration, expressed disappointment at having to vote on the bill for a third time, emphasizing the need to move forward urgently.

Despite calls from MPs, including Conservatives, to accept the amendments proposed by the Lords, Mr. Tomlinson rejected those calls. The Commons voted to reject both amendments, leading to the bill being sent back to the House of Lords for further consideration.

In a Downing Street press conference, Rishi Sunak confirmed that the government has prepared for the first deportation flight, which is set to leave in 10 to 12 weeks. He highlighted the government’s efforts to increase immigration detention spaces and secure charter plane slots for the deportation process to begin.

Shadow home secretary Yvette Cooper and Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey criticized the government’s Rwanda scheme, with Cooper stating that Labour did not block the bill and suggesting alternative measures for enhancing border security.

The stand-off between the two Houses of Parliament revolves around establishing a monitoring committee for the safety of asylum seekers in Rwanda and exempting Afghan asylum seekers who assisted British forces. The debate is likely to continue until a resolution is reached.

Lord Carlile, a member of the House of Lords who opposes the Rwanda plan, affirmed that peers will persist in their efforts to amend the bill. The controversy surrounding the Rwanda Deportation Bill stems from the government’s push to designate Rwanda as a safe country for asylum seekers, a move challenged in court prior to the bill’s introduction.