After months of back and forth between Lords and MPs, it seems that Lords have finally backed down on the Prime Minister’s controversial Rwanda policy.
Rwanda Bill Progress
The controversial Rwanda Bill, proposed by Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, is on track to become law following a resolution in the parliamentary standoff between MPs and Lords.
Possible Human Rights Violations
Sunak has been debating with the Lords for two years now after doubts about the scheme on the grounds of human rights violations.
The Rwanda Plan Explained
The scheme involves sending migrants who entered the UK’s shores illegally to Rwanda, with Sunak promising that flights would take off this Spring.
Sunak Given Green Light
As the debate continued, Lords eventually stepped down, giving Sunak the green light to get flights off the ground in the timeframe he promised.
Lords Deem Rwanda Unsafe
Despite Lords passing five amendments just a few months before, one of which deemed the country of Rwanda as “unsafe” for migrants, they have finally backed down.
Proposed Amendments
This time, Lords wanted to push amendments to the legislation that gave certain immigrants a free pass from being shipped to Rwanda.
Armed Forces Amendment
The amendments pushed by the Lords gave immigrants an exemption from being sent to Rwanda if they had served in the British Armed Forces overseas.
Afghanistan Amendment
A separate amendment would see immigrants exempt if they had arrived from Afghanistan shortly after the takeover of the Taliban.
Illegal Immigrants Exempt?
The proposed amendments would give immigrants in either of these categories exemption, even if they arrived in the UK illegally.
Lords Back Out
Despite the proposals, the Lords decided not to pursue the amendments, giving Sunak the news he had waited for for two years, the Rwanda scheme could now take place.
Government Criticised for Rwanda Scheme
The government has been criticised for its handling of the Rwanda Bill, which some argue is costing the taxpayer more than the immigrants entering the country illegally.
Rwanda Offered Payout
Reports earlier in the year suggested that the government is willing to pay Rwanda a significant amount of money for each migrant it took, to cover “essential” costs.
Watchdog’s Discovery
According to a watchdog report, the government had struck a deal with the Rwandan government to pay them a substantial £171,000 per asylum seeker.
Covering “Essential” Items
The watchdog concluded that these fees would be used to pay “essential items such as food, medical services, education, language training and professional development.”
Sunak Using Rwanda as Deterrent
Sunak insisted that the flights to Rwanda would eventually deter people from entering the country illegally, although this is up for debate.
Boat Crossings Increase
Sunak told a crowd in the West Midlands that people smuggling gangs would see the Rwanda Bill as a “Deterrent” although boat crossings have largely increased since the plans were introduced.
“Success Is When the Boats Have Been Stopped”
In 2024 alone, boat crossings have risen since this time last year by a quarter as Sunak insisted “Success is when the boats have been stopped, that is what the country expects”.
Sunak Insists on Securing the Nation
“If it ever comes to a choice between our national security – securing our borders – and membership of a foreign court, I’m of course always going to prioritise our national security,” Sunak insisted.
Weeks to Wait
After months of MPs rejecting amendments from the Lords, Sunak has announced that flights will be off the ground in 10-12 weeks.
Will Stats Decrease?
Now the Rwanda bill looks to be set in motion, many are keen to see if the immigration statistics decrease over the next year.
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The post Rwanda Bill: Lords Agree £171,000 Per Asylum Seeker Flight Plan first appeared on Edge Media.
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Oscar Davies, an expert in US and UK politics and sports, is renowned for his sharp and engaging writing style, appealing to a broad spectrum of readers.