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UK MPs to sit through the night on Monday in Sunak’s push to pass Rwanda Bill

By Wycliffe Nyamasege
On 19 April 2024 at 12:57

The United Kingdom (UK) MPs are under pressure from Prime Minister Rishi Sunak’s government to pass the Rwanda Bill on Monday after several setbacks that have derailed plans to send asylum seekers to Rwanda.

Local media reports indicate that Sunak’s administration has directed party managers to lobby members of the House of Commons to sit through the night to pass the legislation that has suffered delays due to several amendments proposed by the House of Lords.

Sunak’s latest move follows growing criticism over his failure to “run the votes round the clock” and have the first flight of migrants depart to Rwanda as part of the government’s plan to deter persons arriving in the UK on small boats across the English Channel.

The PM has expressed his confidence that parliament will finally pass the Bill, which declares Rwanda a safe country, on Monday, after suffering several defeats in the Lords.

“Repeatedly, everyone has tried to block us from getting this bill through, and yet again you saw this week Labour peers blocking us again, and that’s enormously frustrating.

“Everyone’s patience with this has worn thin, mine certainly has. Our intention now is to get this done on Monday. No more prevarication, no more delay, we are going to get this done on Monday, and we will sit there and vote until it is done,” he said on Friday.

The peers defied the government to vote through two more amendments to the legislation on Wednesday night.

The Lords are demanding exemption from removal to Rwanda for Afghans who served alongside British soldiers overseas as well as tighter checks on the safety of Rwanda for asylum seekers.

The scheme was first announced in April 2022 by former Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s government following a deal with Rwandan authorities.

The Bill was introduced to Parliament after the UK Supreme Court ruled that the government’s scheme was unlawful. The judges argued that genuine refugees being removed to Rwanda faced the risk of being returned to their home countries, where they could face harm.

Sunak has expressed his confidence that parliament will finally pass the Bill, which declares Rwanda a safe country, on Monday, after suffering several defeats in the Lords.

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