Rwanda bill: Rishi Sunak holds press conference as government faces vote showdown in parliament

The Rwanda Security (Asylum and Immigration) Bill forces judges to deem Rwanda “safe” and disapplies some human rights and international laws.

The bill would also give ministers the power to ignore emergency injunctions.

Asylum seekers may challenge deportation based on individual circumstances, such as serious mental or physical conditions, being a victim of torture, or suicidal thoughts.

But they fail to make the general argument that forced return to Rwanda carries a general risk of “refoulement” (where an asylum seeker is forcibly returned to a country where they face persecution). You probably can't.

New figures show the number of small boat sailings has increased by 24 per cent.

According to the Ministry of Interior, there were 6,265 small boat arrivals from January 1 to April 21, 2024, an increase of 24% compared to 5,049 in the previous period.

Vietnamese (1,266) and Afghans (1,216) accounted for 40% of all arrivals during this period, making them the top two nationalities arriving by 2024.

Vietnamese nationals account for 20% of all arrivals so far this year, compared to less than 3% (125 people) during the same period last year. This means that the number of Vietnamese immigrants has increased tenfold compared to the previous year.

Afghan nationals account for 19% of all arrivals so far this year, which is similar to the proportion of arrivals during the same period last year (22% – 1,098 people).

Rishi Sunak will soon hold a press conference on the controversial Rwanda Bill, which returns to the Commons today for the latest round of table tennis after the House of Lords voted in favor of changes to the bill last week. It is supposed to be.

The Senate has two important demands. One called for Afghan heroes who served with British troops to be exempted from deportation to the African country, and the other called for a monitoring system to be introduced to ensure Rwanda remains a safe country. That's true.

But defiant Downing Street residents warned last week that the government would not make any concessions on the bill.

And the Prime Minister warned that Parliament would pull an all-nighter to pass the bill on Monday.

Mr. Sunak is scheduled to speak in the next few minutes, so stay tuned for updates. Also available on our YouTube channel (link follows).

The deputy foreign minister said Rwanda's capital was safer than London and urged countries to withdraw the government's deportation bill. archie mitchell I will report.

Andrew Mitchell said there was no need for amendments to the Rwanda Bill and that further “ping-pong” between Lords and the House of Commons was “not the right way to proceed”.

Mr Mitchell said: “The Lords have spoken, they are the House of Revision and it is time to accept the Bill.”

Asked by the BBC about Rwanda's safety for asylum seekers, Mitchell said: “Rwanda's remarkable regime over the past 30 years has brought it back from the abyss of a country completely destroyed by genocide.

“What the Rwandan government has achieved in all areas is absolutely extraordinary. It's a safe country. And in fact, if you look at the statistics, Kigali is definitely safer than London.”

The deputy foreign minister said Rwanda's capital was safer than London and urged countries to withdraw the government's deportation bill.

Andrew Mitchell said there was no need for amendments to the Rwanda Bill and that further “ping-pong” between Lords and the House of Commons was “not the right way to proceed”.

Mr Mitchell said: “The Lords have spoken, they are the House of Revision and it is time to accept the Bill.”

Asked by the BBC about Rwanda's safety for asylum seekers, Mitchell said: “Rwanda's remarkable regime over the past 30 years has brought it back from the abyss of a country completely destroyed by genocide.

“What the Rwandan government has achieved in all areas is absolutely extraordinary. It's a safe country. And in fact, if you look at the statistics, Kigali is definitely safer than London.”

Lords on Wednesday night voted in favor of amendments to the Rwanda Security (Asylum and Immigration) Bill that would exempt Afghan heroes who supported British troops overseas from deportation.

They also insisted that a monitoring committee assess whether Rwanda is safe before the government sends asylum seekers there.

MPs are refusing to budge on plans to deport asylum seekers to the East African country, with Downing Street insisting the bill is the “right step forward”.

However, Lords refused to withdraw the bill, so the bill will be returned to the House of Commons today. Lawmakers are expected to vote down the change again, forcing it back to chiefs.

The Home Office has confirmed it will give Rwanda £50m if Rishi Sunak's flagship deportation bill is passed.

The bill, which is expected to receive royal assent this week, will see Britain send the latest round of cash to the East African nation, even though the country has not sent any migrants.

The policy will allow the government to deport some asylum seekers to Rwanda, deeming it “safe” under UK law, with the government expecting the first flights to take off in the coming months. I predict that will happen.

Deputy Foreign Secretary Andrew Mitchell rejected the countrymen's request for Afghans who helped British troops to be exempted from the risk of being sent to Rwanda.

He insisted there were “safe and legal routes” available for them to come to the UK and called on the House of Lords to “accept the will” of the House of Commons and the British people.

Mr Mitchell told Times Radio: “We have an absolute duty to the Afghan interpreters who served in the British Army and contributed to our country during the Afghanistan crisis.

“However, I am pleased to be able to say that 16,100 Afghans have now been able to settle in the UK thanks to the Arup (Afghanistan Migration and Assistance Policy) scheme, a scheme launched by the Government.

“So I don't think this amendment is necessary. A safe and legal route already exists for Afghan interpreters and others who have served in the military.”

Mr Mitchell said he hoped Lords would “accept the will of this elected House of Commons and bring the bill forward”, saying “that's what the British people want”.

“We know overwhelmingly that they agree that the boats need to be stopped, but while the government has a clear plan, no one else has a clear plan. ”

Andrew Mitchell, the deputy foreign secretary, rejected the countrymen's request for Afghans who helped British troops to be exempted from the risk of being sent to Rwanda.

Rishi Sunak is expected to hold a surprise press conference ahead of a final parliamentary showdown to urge colleagues to back the Rwanda plan.

The Prime Minister will address the nation from Downing Street at 10.30am ahead of a big vote on legislation aimed at legally perfecting plans to send asylum seekers on one-way trips to Rwanda. I plan to.

The government has vowed to keep parliament in session late into the night if necessary to pass the Rwanda Security (Asylum and Immigration) Bill, which is crucial to the prime minister's pledge to “stop the boats”. I think there is.