Current location:health >>
MPs are urged to finally pass the Rwanda bill after 535 migrants cross the Channel on Sunday
health9People have gathered around
IntroductionParliament was urged to finally pass the Rwanda bill last night after the number of illegal Channel ...
Parliament was urged to finally pass the Rwanda bill last night after the number of illegal Channel crossings hit a new daily high for 2024.
Latest figures revealed that 534 migrants in 10 boats reached Britain on Sunday, following 214 in five dinghies the day before.
That takes the total number of arrivals so far this year to 6,265 – 28 per cent higher than by this time last year.
Downing Street admitted the figures were 'unacceptable' and said they showed the need for the new Safety of Rwanda Bill – which has been held up by Government defeats in the House of Lords – to deter more people from making the crossing.
The Prime Minister's official spokesman said: 'It's an unacceptable number of people who continue to cross the Channel and it demonstrates exactly why we must pass this Bill and get flights off the ground as soon as possible and provide the important deterrent that the Bill will provide.'
Parliament was urged to finally pass the Rwanda bill last night after the number of illegal Channel crossings hit a new daily high for 2024 (file picture)
Latest figures revealed that 534 migrants in 10 boats reached Britain on Sunday, following 214 in five dinghies the day before (file picture)
The legislation, which declares Rwanda is a safe country for migrants to be sent to after the Supreme Court ruled the scheme unlawful last autumn, returned to the Commons last night for fresh consideration of amendments voted through by the Lords before Easter.
Illegal Migration Minister Michael Tomlinson told MPs: 'Here we are, back again, debating the same issues and amendments we have already rejected. We're not quite at the point yet of completing each others' sentences, but we are almost there.
READ MORE: Record day yet for Channel migrants with 534 crossing on Sunday in small boats - as MPs are set to finally approve Rwanda deportation flights this weekAdvertisement
'The issue before the House is whether the clearly expressed views of this House, throughout the entire passage of the Bill, should prevail.
'We cannot accept amendments to provide for loopholes which would perpetuate the current cycle of delays and late legal challenges.
'We have a moral duty to stop the boats. We must bring an end to the dangerous, unnecessary and illegal methods that have been deployed. We must protect our borders and, most importantly, save lives at sea.'
He added: 'Our partnership with Rwanda is a key part of our strategy. The message is absolutely clear: if you come to the United Kingdom illegally, you will not be able to stay; you will be detained and swiftly returned to your country, to a safe country or to a safe third country, Rwanda.'
He rejected the need for the Lords' amendments, including one that would exempt those who helped UK armed forces overseas from being deported, insisting 'we will not let them down'.
But Shadow Immigration Minister Stephen Kinnock said the Rwanda scheme was 'doomed to fail' and that in the two years since it was announced, it had led to hundreds of millions of pounds being handed to the Rwandan government, while the only people flown to the capital Kigali had been three Home Secretaries.
'The boats have kept coming, the backlog has kept growing and the people-smugglers are still laughing all the way to the bank.
'Two years of headline-chasing gimmicks, two years of pursuing a policy that is fundamentally unworkable, unaffordable and unlawful. Two years of flogging this dead horse,' he said.
Illegal Migration Minister Michael Tomlinson called on MPs to finally pass the Rwanda bill
Downing Street admitted the figures were 'unacceptable' and said they showed the need for the new Safety of Rwanda Bill – which has been held up by Government defeats in the House of Lords – to deter more people from making the crossing (file pic)
It is expected that the Lords will table more amendments aimed at watering down the Bill again today, which could be passed if crossbenchers and rebel Tories continue their opposition to the plan.
That will lead to a final round of parliamentary 'ping pong' on Wednesday when the Bill returns to the Commons for the amendments to be undone again before they are finally agreed to by the Lords. Ministers then hope the first deportation flight will take off 'within weeks'.
However, refugee charities, including Care4Calais, have vowed to launch legal challenges.
Veteran Tory MP Sir Bill Cash told the Commons: 'Let's get this Bill done. Let's get the House of Lords to calm down a bit.
'Let us also see what the judgement of the Supreme Court is on the wording – providing it is clear and unambiguous – of this Bill.'
MPs began voting on a series of amendments to the Bill at 8.30pm last night. Due to the Tory majority, the Government was expected to win all of them, undoing the changes inserted by the Lords.
Tags:
Reprint:Friends are welcome to share on the Internet, but please indicate the source of the article when reprinting it.“Culture Compass news portal”。http://mauritius.downmusic.org/news-17c599912.html
Related articles
Kylie Jenner and longtime pal Rosalia arrive back at the Mark Hotel in NYC hand
healthKylie Jenner and Rosalia showed their friendship is going strong as they arrived hand-in-hand The Ma ...
【health】
Read moreXi Inspects Post
healthContact Us HomeNewsHighlightACWF NewsSocietyWom ...
【health】
Read moreChina hosts 135th Canton Fair in Guangzhou
healthThe 135th session of the China Import and Export Fair, better known as the Canton Fair, will be held ...
【health】
Read more
Popular articles
- Alves granted €1m bail after sexual assault conviction
- Tibet's Nyingchi holds archery competition to celebrate Gongbo New Year
- CCPIT anticipates further international cooperation in second Expo
- Light decorations for upcoming Spring Festival in Xi'an
- House prices flat in April says Halifax, but buyers seek cheaper homes due to rising mortgage rates
- Chinese companies set new digging record in tunnelling projects in Nepal
Latest articles
LINKS
- Canada's tourism spending sharply down in 2020
- Xi Congratulates Chuppu on Assuming Bangladeshi Presidency
- Light show held in Haikou, S China
- Balloons fly high over Gansu's Danxia landscape
- Xi's Three Visits to Wuhan
- Scenery of Xiling Gorge amid the misty rain
- Zoom in on beautiful Fenghuang Town
- People take part in 5
- Tourism drives cultural and creative industries in SW China’s Tibet
- Taihang mountains attract visitors as leaves change colors