Rishi Sunak appeals to House of Lords to support the Rwanda bill

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has called on the House of Lords to pass his Rwanda bill, emphasizing that it's important not to "frustrate the will of the people." The legislation, which aims to send some asylum seekers to Rwanda, has already been approved by MPs. Mr. Sunak didn't provide a specific date for when flights to Rwanda would begin, but he expressed his desire for it to happen as quickly as possible. The bill faced opposition from Conservative MPs, with around 60 of them supporting changes to strengthen the legislation. Critics argue that the bill will face legal challenges and won't effectively deter migrants from crossing the Channel. Labour refers to the bill as an expensive and unworkable "gimmick." The bill must now be approved by the House of Lords, where it is expected to face strong opposition. Although the Lords are unlikely to vote the bill down entirely, they can propose changes that would delay its progress. Some peers have expressed concerns, viewing the bill as a step toward totalitarianism and an illegitimate interference of politics with the law. Mr. Sunak urged the Lords to pass the bill without amendments and swiftly, as he considers it an urgent national priority. The prime minister's remarks were deemed "bizarre" by Labour's shadow immigration minister, who highlighted the importance of the House of Lords' role in scrutinizing legislation. While the government aims to have flights to Rwanda by the spring, no concrete date was provided. The bill will now be debated in the House of Lords, with crucial votes expected in early March. After that, the bill will go through a reconciliation process between the Commons and Lords before it is expected to pass around mid-March. Critics believe legal challenges could still hinder deportation flights even after the bill becomes law.