Parliamentary ping pong will continue as Rishi Sunak’s Rwanda plan returns to the House of Commons, members of the House of Lords have decided.
Peers voted by 240 to 211 in fvour of Lord Anderson’s amendment to require an independent body to rule Rwanda as a “safe country”.
Sunak was handed a major boost earlier today when MPs decisively rejected amendments previously tabled by the House of Lords.
However, the Government was accused of conceding ground on measures to protect Afghans who assisted the British Army.
Speaking in the Commons after the Bill returned, Illegal Migration Minister Michael Tomlinson said there was “nothing new” in what the Lords had said.
He also pushed for the final amendment to face the chop.
However, Shadow Immigration Minister Stephen Kinnock slammed Sunak for “ferociously attacking” peers “simply for doing their constitutional duty”.
Home Office Minister Lord Sharpe directly addressed comments about the Government’s stance on Afghans.
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Rishi Sunak updated the nation about his illegal immigration planGettyHe said: “The Government recognises the commitment and responsibility that comes with combat veterans, whether our own or those who have shared courage by serving alongside us, and we will not let them down.”
The peer’s second proposal will likely be rejected by MPs as the Tories retain a solid majority in the lower chamber.
However, the legislation will return to the House of Lords later tonight as peers have to decide whether to finally give Sunak’s Rwanda plan approval.
The latest state of parliamentary ping pong comes just hours after the Prime Minister announced the first flight will take off in “10 to 12 weeks”.
Sunak said: “Parliament will sit there tonight and vote no matter how late it goes, no ifs, no buts, these flights are going to Rwanda.
A picture of Channel crossing migrants arriving in KentPA“We are going to deliver this indispensable deterrent so that we finally break the business model of the criminal gangs and save lives.
“Starting from the moment the bill passes, we will begin the process of removing those identified for the first flight. We have prepared for this moment.”
He added: “These flights will go come what may. No foreign court will stop us from getting flights off.”
MPs voted 306 to 229, a majority of 77, earlier tonight to overturn an amendment which would have required independent monitors to certify the African nation is a safe country.
MPs voted 305 to 234, a majority of 71, to reject the second proposal from peers.
Source Agencies
