UK Prime Minister flagship Rwanda bill is finally set to become law after months of wrangling ended in a parliamentary showdown shortly before midnight.
It designates Rwanda a safe country and is a key part of the government’s plans to send some asylum seekers there.
The bill has been fiercely criticised by opposition parties but the Lords ended their objections late on Monday.
Prime Minister Sunak has said flights to Rwanda will take off within 10 to 12 weeks, missing his original spring target.
But departures could still be held up in the courts or delays in securing the planes asylum seekers would travel on.
Home Secretary James Cleverly said passing the bill was a “landmark moment in our plan to stop the boats”.
In a video posted to social media, he said: “I promised to do what was necessary to clear the path for the first flight. That’s what we have done.
“Now we’re working day in and day out to get flights off the ground.”
But shadow home secretary Yvette Cooper called the Rwanda plan an “extortionately expensive gimmick”.
The government plans have been stymied since November 2023, when the UK Supreme Court ruled unanimously that the Rwanda scheme was unlawful.
Earlier on Monday, the prime minister said flights were booked to take off as soon the legislation was passed and 500 staff were ready to escort migrants “all the way to Rwanda”.
“Plans are in place. And these flights will go, come what may,” he said, adding he wanted to create “a drumbeat of multiple flights a month… because that’s how you build a systematic deterrent and that’s how you’ll stop the boats”.
Mr Sunak had vowed to keep MPs working through the night if necessary to pass his bill and get flights off the ground.
A lengthy wrestle between the Commons and House of Lords continued for many hours, with peers sending the bill back to MPs five times.
But the gruelling parliamentary back-and-forth came to an end when peers decided not to push their opposition to it any further, and the final debate wound up shortly after midnight.
This meant the government was able to get its way, despite the fierce criticism from opposition parties and peers from across the Lords.
Rishi Sunak’s Rwanda Bill To Become Law after Heavy Debate
