The UK government is facing opposition over its plan to deport asylum seekers to Rwanda. Talks with Armenia and other countries are ongoing. The cost of the scheme has reached £290 million, with additional funding of £50 million planned. The Home Office aims to reduce Channel crossings by a third to deem the Rwanda scheme cost-effective. MPs are pushing for the Rwanda bill to become law despite resistance in the House of Lords. RAF Voyager aircraft may be used for deportations after airlines refused. Peers are demanding concessions, including exemptions for certain groups like Afghan interpreters.
Rishi Sunak considering concessions on Rwanda deportation bill to allow exemptions for Afghans who served alongside UK forces, sources tell @syalrajeev Labour a/ment in Lords secured biggest majority - of 57 - with peers backing it by 275 votes to 218, in last night’s votes.
Chief Secretary to the Treasury Laura Trott refuses to tell @harry_horton whether the government has an airline that will operate deportation flights to Rwanda if the Bill passes in the Commons this week Numerous airlines reportedly ruled themselves out amid reputational concern https://t.co/jJvdC9ppTi
Chief Secretary to the Treasury, Laura Trott, refuses to say whether the government has an airline that will operate deportation flights to Rwanda if the Bill passes in the Commons this week Numerous airlines have reportedly ruled themselves out amid reputational concerns https://t.co/jCPimd1IRv
Government 'operationalising' Rwanda flights amid reports RAF Voyagers could be used Read more🔗 https://t.co/icDNvxhp4C
Moment of truth looms on Rwanda Bill: MPs bid to force crucial Channel boats legislation through TONIGHT despite House of Lords resistance https://t.co/rtjkvt4mii https://t.co/7s0PaPJ0Qt
Rwanda deportation flights will take off this spring, a minister insists as MPs and peers fight over amendments to the controversial legislation https://t.co/oFQT1SLca2
🔵 Peers have blocked Rishi Sunak’s flagship Rwanda deportation scheme for a third time, piling pressure on ministers to offer a concession https://t.co/sTeOd9YweE
Rumours that the government is preparing to make a concession on whether Afghan interpreters should be exempt from deportation - one of the key Lords amendments to the Rwanda Bill.
Ministers will now have to decide whether to offer any concessions, particularly on a demand by peers for Afghans who worked with the UK military or Government overseas to be exempted from removal to Rwanda. https://t.co/03KK1daXOo
Peers have blocked Rishi Sunak’s flagship Rwanda deportation scheme for a third time, piling pressure on ministers to offer a concession. @JamesCleverly @VotePursglove @Michael4MDNP https://t.co/QjPKuT19A9 https://t.co/1hWz8HCkP8
The parliamentary “ping-pong” over Prime Minister Rishi Sunak’s Rwanda scheme will continue on Wednesday after peers gave the controversial policy a fresh beating ✍: @sophie_wing8 https://t.co/c31HOkMZj2
🚨 NEW: Rishi Sunak will now use leased RAF Voyagers to fly migrants to Rwanda after airlines refused to take part RAF personnel or AirTanker staff will be used to man the flights "whether they like it or not" [@thetimes] https://t.co/lumNi7udwq
Excl: Rishi Sunak is planning to deploy RAF Voyager aircraft to deport migrants to Rwanda. There are plans to activate a clause in an MoD contract with AirTanker, an aviation services provider that leases a fleet of 14 Airbus A330 aircraft to the RAF: https://t.co/0f7SjKybTT
Migrants from a cohort of 40,000 people who are stuck “in limbo” may have to be granted amnesty rather than being sent to Rwanda, a senior Tory MP has warned. https://t.co/3Lczmo3T7a https://t.co/qMgZvrpmlv
Peers debate illegal migration as government's Rwanda plans return to spotlight. https://t.co/MbMtt26MFt https://t.co/eqjssSdgnN
We've only got @RishiSunak's word for it, but flights to Rwanda are expected to take off soon. Meanwhile🇵🇰*nt4Calais @care4calais are looking to recruit volunteers to advise illegal migrants on how to appeal their deportation. They org was admonished for maladministration… https://t.co/LmASiZfE8Q
Lords could continue to hold out for more concessions on Rwanda Bill https://t.co/IUPIGIhttA
Tory Minister Refuses 7 Times To Say If Any Airline Has Agreed To Fly Migrants To Rwanda https://t.co/s1UkagQRhb
#KayBurley: So you've got an airline to take people to Rwanda now? Laura Farris(Home Office Minister): It's not the operational logistics that's holding us up KB: So you do have an airline? LF: We're very close to being able to do this.. KB: So you almost have an airline? https://t.co/c2SCDQGYyT
🚨 NEW: Rishi Sunak will give Rwanda another £50m when his Rwanda bill is passed into law this week [@guardian]
A law to send some asylum seekers to Rwanda is a step closer to becoming law. Chief political correspondent Henry Zeffman told #BBCBreakfast MP's rejected a series of changes suggested by the House of Lords https://t.co/XefCK4J1Tt https://t.co/xWuMx56ovJ
A key plank in Britain's plan to send migrants to Rwanda is set to become law https://t.co/pnhmwiz3gb
The number of illegal migrants arriving in the UK must fall by 10,000 for the Rwanda scheme to be value for money, the Home Office admits https://t.co/cfN4E7BqZi https://t.co/m0na8pLTmg
MPs are urged to finally pass the Rwanda bill as 535 migrants cross the Channel on Sunday - a new high for this year https://t.co/18bMQhqeBH https://t.co/cYovpjoXWL
Sunak to give Rwanda £50m if deportation bill passed into law https://t.co/3YugNjrhzx
UK enters talks with four countries to replicate Rwanda deal and deport illegal migrants there https://t.co/f311KoxXVa
BREAKING: The House of Commons votes by 320 to 246 to overturn an amendment which would have stopped victims of modern slavery from being deported to Rwanda
"It's unlikely that the Rwandans can take more than 500 in the course of a year." Chief exec of refugee charity @Care4Calais says "letters have already been sent", in light of amendment votes on the Rwanda bill. https://t.co/MB1W3mSuem 📺 Sky 501, Virgin 602, YouTube https://t.co/fce19VyPuA
'By Thursday this will be law, and then there will be a new battle in the courts where there will be six weeks of lawyers trying to stop flights taking off.' GB News' Political Editor, @ChristopherHope, provides the latest on the Rwanda bill from the House of Commons. https://t.co/jk8CXzs3PS
Rishi Sunak stands little chance of signing Rwanda-type asylum deals with other countries before the election, Whitehall insiders believe @singharj and @RichardVaughan1 report https://t.co/sR0Gem08Tf
#RwandaBill won't work as deterrent that Ministers claim, accounting for less than 1% of those crossing Channel irregularly. Tories have busted Home Office budget by over £5.4billion, with £4billion overspend on asylum hotels and accommodation; they must fix their broken system. https://t.co/wuPRMPr1w1
Rwanda will be deemed value for money if Channel crossings are slashed by a third, according to Home Office perm sec Matthew Rycroft
Ministers to hand Rwanda another £50million as soon as migrant deportation plan becomes law - taking the total cost of scheme to £290m without a single person arriving in Africa - as another 500 cross Channel on busiest day of 2024 https://t.co/aUBjWzXqBr https://t.co/2Ni6VWXo7H
Home Office Perm Sec Matthew Rycroft says only a "tiny number" of countries are suitable for a Rwanda-style scheme. He tells the Public Accounts Committee: “A lot have been assessed, and a tiny number that are into the next stage of work”.
"UK targets four countries for Rwanda deal "Leaked documents show the Foreign Office has shortlisted more countries to deport migrants to, as the Safety of Rwanda Bill is due to receive royal assent" https://t.co/HpfgX4yc4s
UK could deport asylum seekers to ex-Soviet republic – The Times The government has entered talks with Armenia amid opposition to its Rwanda plan, the newspaper has reported https://t.co/ximmiESd7j https://t.co/dKnmQhvULL
‘It is almost as thought the people traffickers are trying to taunt the Government.’ GB News Political Editor, @christopherhope, explains that MPs are set to consider amendments to the Rwanda Plan in the House of Lords. https://t.co/rMn8IFXLyG