United Kingdom: Rwanda Bill To Become Law
Prime Minister Rishi Sunak's Rwanda bill to become law after the parliamentary debate ended.
A Unitd Kingdom bill to send some asylum seekers to Africa have met with fierce criticism, but the bill passed on Monday 22 of April, 2024 when the Lords dropped their opposition to make the plan scale through. Prime minister Sunak said in a statement “nothing will stand in our way” now of getting flights off the ground. But the plan could still be held up by challenged in the court.
Before the bill was passed, the prime minister announced the flights to Rwanda would take off within 10 to 12 weeks, missing his original spring target. In his statement on Tuesday, he called the passing of the Rwanda bill “not just a step forward but a fundamental change in the global equation on migration”. “We introduced the Rwanda bill to deter vulnerable migrants from making perilous crossings and break the business model of the criminal gangs who exploit them. “The passing of this legislation will allow us to do that and make it very clear that if you come here illegally, you will not be able to stay. “Our focus is to now get flights off the ground, and I am clear that nothing will stand in our way of doing that and saving lives.” But shadow home secretary Yvette Cooper called the Rwanda plan an “extortionately expensive gimmick”.
Charities have also hit out at the scheme, with leading human rights groups describing it as a “breach of international law”. According to a live TV report by the BBC’s home affairs correspondent Tom Symonds in Calais on Tuesday morning, a group of about 30 migrants boarded a small boat on the beach and could be seen heading out into the Channel towards the UK.
When Asked about the moment shortly after during an interview on BBC Breakfast, Minister for Illegal Migration Michael Tomlinson said the bill passing was a “landmark moment”, and that the deterrent would be felt when flights get off the ground. “The numbers will start off small but there will be a regular rhythm of flights… thousands of people will eventually be removed to Rwanda and the deterrent effect will kick in,” he said.
