Prime Minister Calls for Support in Deportation Bill
Chancellor Rishi Sunak has called on the unelected House of Lords to support his Rwanda plan, stating that it is an "urgent national priority" to "start the flights." Speaking at a press conference in Downing Street, Sunak urged peers to rally behind the deportation bill, which was recently passed by the House of Commons. The bill aims to establish a treaty with Rwanda and designate it as a safe country for migrants.
Cross-Channel Migrant Crossings Detected
Shortly after Sunak's address, the Home Office confirmed that 358 migrants in eight boats were detected crossing the English Channel on the previous day. This comes as concerns were raised that the deportation bill could be defeated by rebel Tory MPs.
Will the Lords Frustrate the Will of the People?
Sunak emphasized that the main question now is whether the House of Lords will try to frustrate the will of the people expressed by the elected House or if they will support the bill. He urged the Lords to pass the legislation, highlighting that the treaty with Rwanda has been signed and the bill has been passed unamended in the elected chamber.
Tories "Come Together" Despite Rebel MPs
Despite 11 Conservative MPs voting against the legislation, Sunak stated that the Conservative Party has "come together" to pass the bill. He pointed out that small boat arrivals have decreased by over a third in the past year but emphasized the need to "start the flights" to address the ongoing small boat crisis.
Labour Criticized for Lack of Plan
Sunak criticized Labour and its leader, Sir Keir Starmer, for not having a plan to tackle the small boat crisis. He accused Labour of merely "talking the talk" without presenting a viable solution and warned that if in power, they would give the "green light" to people smugglers.
No Guarantee of Flights Before General Election
When asked by the media if there was a guarantee that a plane to Rwanda would take off before the next general election, Sunak did not provide a definitive answer. However, he reiterated that the government aims to implement the plan as quickly as possible, and it is now up to the House of Lords to move the bill forward.
