The Rwanda Bill passed its third reading in the House of Commons yesterday (Wednesday, January 17). Rishi Sunak is now preparing for a showdown with the House of Lords as it is sent over for their consideration. He has urged peers to "do the right thing” and back the bill.
The bill would see illegal migrants who come across the channel in small boats sent to Rwanda for their asylum claims to be processed there instead of in the UK. You can find out how your MP voted yesterday in the third reading of the bill using our interactive gadget.
A would-be revolt that saw the leading Conservatives resign over the bill largely melted away with 320 MPs voting for the bill and only 276 against it. Mr Sunak held a press conference this morning (Thursday, January 18) ahead of the bill being put to peers in the House of Lords, the next stage of legislation.
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He said: “It’s now time for the Lords to pass this Bill. This is an urgent national priority. The treaty with Rwanda is signed and the legislation which deems Rwanda a safe country has been passed unamended in our elected chamber.
"There is now only one question. Will the opposition in the appointed House of Lords try and frustrate the will of the people as expressed by the elected House? Or will they get on board and do the right thing?"
Find out how your MP voted on Wednesday below using our interactive gadget:
The Rwanda Bill has been a central part of Mr Sunak's premiership as part of his pledge to stop small boats of migrants coming to Britain across the Channel. The Bill was first proposed in 2022, while Boris Johnson still sat in Number 10. The legislation, along with a recently signed treaty with Rwanda, is aimed at ensuring the scheme is legally watertight after a Supreme Court ruling against it last year.
The successful passage of the Bill through the Commons came as a boost to Mr Sunak, but only after another display of the deep divisions in the Tory Party after dozens of backbenchers rebelled to back right-wing amendments over the course of Tuesday and Wednesday. The Prime Minister insisted Wednesday’s vote on the third reading showed his party was “completely united”.
Mr Sunak, way behind in polls to Labour, repeatedly said his “plan was working”. He also reiterated his attacks on Labour, warning Sir Keir Starmer’s party would drag the country back to “square one” if he won the next election. The House of Lords could significantly stall the Rwanda legislation, which would put in jeopardy Mr Sunak’s ambition to have removal flights leaving by the spring.
The stalled policy already comes with a £290 million bill. No asylum seekers arriving by unauthorised routes have yet been relocated.
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