The Prime Minister is bracing for legal challenges after the Rwanda Bill has passed in the House of Commons and Rishi Sunak has pledged that “nothing will stand in the way” of getting flights off the ground.
Shortly after midnight the Safety of Rwanda (Asylum and Immigration Bill) cleared Parliament.
The Prime Minister said: “The passing of this landmark legislation is 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.”
Home Secretary James Cleverly said: “The Act will prevent people from abusing the law by using false human rights claims to block removals.
“And it makes clear that the UK Parliament is sovereign, giving Government the power to reject interim blocking measures imposed by European courts.
“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.”
The council’s human rights commissioner, Michael O’Flaherty said: “The adoption of the Safety of Rwanda (Asylum and Immigration) Bill by the UK Parliament raises major issues about the human rights of asylum seekers and the rule of law more generally.
“The United Kingdom Government should refrain from removing people under the Rwanda policy and reverse the Bill’s effective infringement of judicial independence.”
Illegal migration minister Michael Tomlinson told Times Radio: “It’s inevitable, I’m afraid, that there will be challenges.”
Shadow home secretary Yvette Cooper described the Bill “an extortionately expensive gimmick rather than a serious plan to tackle dangerous boat crossings.”
“The Rwanda scheme will cost more than half-a-billion pounds for just 300 people, less than 1% of asylum seekers here in the UK – and there is no plan for the 99%,” Cooper added.
“Instead of spending £2 million per asylum seeker on this failing scheme, they should be putting that money into boosting our border security instead – that is Labour’s practical plan.”
