Rwanda flights move a step closer after MPs reject Lords' attempts to neuter crucial Bill… teeing up major 'ping pong' showdown between the Houses tomorrow

Rwanda flights are a step closer today after MPs rejected peers’ attempts to water down crucial legislation.

The government overturned 10 amendments in the Commons last night in a major relief for embattled Rishi Sunak.

The stage is now set for a showdown with the Lords tomorrow, with ministers warning the unelected House not to ‘wreck’ the flagship Bill designed to help tackle the Channel boats crisis.

The PM has reiterated his vow that the first deportations to Rwanda will happen this Spring, but that timetable could be thwarted if MPs do not win the test of strength between the parliamentary chambers – known as ‘ping pong’.

The Commons goes into its Easter recess at the close of business on March 26, with peers heading away from Westminster a day later.

With peers pledging to maintain resistance, it is likely to require an all-night sitting to break the deadlock on the Safety of Rwanda (Asylum and Immigration) Bill before then.

MPs debating amendments to the Rwanda (Asylum and Immigration) Bill in the House of Commons last night

A drone shot showing migrants crossing the English Channel in a small boat on March 6, 2024

The government overturned 10 amendments in the Commons last night in a major relief for embattled Rishi Sunak (pictured)

Government sources have played down concerns about delay, insisting there are other elements that need to fall into place alongside the legislation.

MPs voted by majorities ranging from 57 to 78 to reject the series of amendments made to the Bill by peers, an indication of a relatively stress-free Monday for the Government.

The amendments overturned included an attempt by peers to ensure the Bill complies with domestic and international law, and a requirement that Parliament cannot declare Rwanda to be a safe country until the treaty with its promised safeguards is fully implemented.

Home Office minister Michael Tomlinson said Rwanda has a ‘long and proud history’ of integrating asylum seekers and refugees and said the UK Government had ‘published evidence’ in support of Rwanda being a safe country.

He also told the Commons: ‘They are wrecking amendments.’

The proposed legislation seeks to compel judges to regard the east African country as safe in a bid to clear the way to send asylum seekers who cross the Channel in small boats on a one-way flight to Rwanda.

Peers also moved an amendment to exempt people from removal to Rwanda if they have put themselves in harm’s way by working with the UK armed forces or UK Government overseas from removal to Rwanda.

MPs rejected the amendment but Mr Tomlinson sought to offer assurances over the UK Government’s commitment to combat veterans who helped the UK.

He said existing legislation gives the Home Secretary discretion to consider cases on an individual basis and once the Afghan Relocations and Assistance Policy review has concluded, the Government will consider and revisit how existing law can be applied.

Shadow Home Office minister Stephen Kinnock said of the 10 amendments: ‘They each serve to make this shambolic mess of a Bill marginally less absurd, and they would serve only to put in statute what ministers have actually promised from that despatch box.

‘Not one of these amendments is designed to prevent the departure of flights to Rwanda, as the Prime Minister has repeatedly and wrongly implied that they will.’

Tories turned the screw on peers and Labour for their opposition to the Bill. Former minister Sir John Hayes questioned whether they were ‘clueless or careless’ about what is happening with immigration.

Fellow MP Alexander Stafford warned ‘more people will die if this Bill doesn’t go through because of the loss of life in the Channel’.

Mr Stafford said of peers: ‘They clearly don’t care about the people who are dying in the Channel trying to cross it. They clearly don’t care about the cost to the public purse of these hundreds of thousands illegal immigrants coming over.

‘Their lordships clearly don’t care about the everyday person in the street.’

Conservative MP Sir Bill Cash criticised urged Parliament to ‘get on’ with the Bill, saying MPs should be ‘very firm’ with the Lords.

But critics swiped that Virgin Galactic could send six people into space at a lower cost than the government is spending to deport one person to Rwanda.

The scheme could cost taxpayers nearly £2million for each of the first 300 asylum seekers sent to Rwanda, according to the National Audit Office (NAO).

Tickets for Virgin Galactic flights initially went on sale for about £158,000 each, and last summer cost about £356,000 per person – putting the cost of six space tourists at £2.13 million.

Peers discussing the Rwanda Bill in the House of Lords recently

Downing Street has said the Government believes the Bill is ‘right’ and ‘it remains our plan to get it through as quickly as possible’.

Officials have already identified the first group who will be put on flights to Rwanda, No 10 said.

Mr Sunak said: ‘I am still committed to the timeline that I set out previously, which is we aim to get a flight off in the spring.

‘It’s important that we get the Rwanda scheme up and running because we need to have a deterrent.

‘We need to make it clear that if you come here illegally, you won’t be able to stay and we will be able to remove you. That is the only way to properly solve the issue of illegal migration.

‘We’ve made good progress. Boat numbers were down by a third last year. That shows that our plan is working, but in order to finish the job, we need the Rwanda scheme through.’

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