Rwanda battle ramps up as unelected House of Lords braces to defy MPs AGAIN by passing wrecking amendments to Bill… with final showdown looming

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By Greg Heffer, Political Correspondent

Published: 10:23 BST, 16 April 2024 | Updated: 10:38 BST, 16 April 2024

Unelected peers are today set to continue their battle with the House of Commons over the Rwanda migrant plan.

The House of Lords will again debate the Prime Minister's flagship Safety of Rwanda (Asylum and Immigration) Bill this afternoon.

The latest stage of parliamentary 'ping pong' over the legislation comes as Rishi Sunak faces increasing pressure over his pledge to 'stop the boats'.

The Government successfully overturned six Lords' amendments last night as MPs returned the Bill to its original form.

But peers could yet prolong the wrangle over the legislation, which declares Rwanda a safe destination to send asylum seekers, by seeking further changes tonight.

An analysis of Home Office data found more than 75,000 migrants have crossed the Channel to Britain since ministers first announced the Rwanda plan two years ago.

No asylum seekers have yet been sent to the east African country after the multi-million pound scheme got bogged down in legal challenges.

The House of Lords will again debate the Prime Minister's flagship Safety of Rwanda (Asylum and Immigration) Bill this afternoon

People sit onboard an inflatable boat before attempting to cross the Channel to reach Britain, off the coast of Sangatte, northern France

The latest stage of parliamentary 'ping pong' over the Rwanda Bill comes as Rishi Sunak faces increasing pressure over his pledge to 'stop the boats'

On Sunday, 534 people were detected crossing the Channel - which was the highest number on a single day so far this year.

It is not yet clear if the Lords will stage another bid to amend the Rwanda Bill today, which it has already done twice now, or if peers will concede defeat and allow the legislation through.

If peers vote to approve another series of amendments, the Bill will return to the Commons on Wednesday for more votes before once again being passed back to the Lords.

The legislation will only receive royal assent and become law once both Houses have agreed on its final wording in a process known as parliamentary ping-pong.

Among the amendments overturned by MPs last night were proposals to ensure the Bill has 'due regard' for domestic and international law and that Rwanda is only regarded as safe for as long as the provisions of the UK's treaty with that country are in place.

During Monday's debate, veteran Conservative backbencher Sir Bill Cash urged peers to 'calm down' and described their amendments as 'ridiculous'.

Home Office minister Michael Tomlinson stressed that the 'elected' Commons had voted in favour of an unamended Bill and called on MPs to 'stand with the Government in upholding the will of the House of Commons'.

But Labour's shadow immigration minister Stephen Kinnock said the Rwanda scheme was 'doomed to fail' and described the policy as 'fundamentally unworkable, unaffordable and unlawful'.

The ongoing standoff between the two Houses of Parliament continues to delay flights deporting asylum seekers to Rwanda, seen by the Government as a vital deterrent to the small boats crossing the Channel.

The Government has previously said it wanted to get flights off the ground in the spring.

But on Monday the PM's official spokesman would only say it was committed to implementing the policy 'as soon as possible'.

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