Colleagues said ‘enough is enough’ as ​​Parliament has to wait all night for the Rwanda Bill sitting

MPs have again challenged colleagues over changes to the government’s flagship Rwanda plan, as the parliamentary stalemate heads towards a possible overnight confrontation.

Home Secretary Michael Tomlinson told colleagues “enough is enough” as he urged them to commit to making changes to Rwanda’s Security (Asylum and Immigration) Bill.

The bill aims to legally strengthen the government’s deportation plan in Rwanda, which would see some asylum seekers make a one-way trip to the East African country.

Ministers hope this will act as a deterrent to migrants trying to cross the English Channel in small boats.

Earlier on Monday, Rishi Sunak blamed Labor colleagues for holding up the bill as he acknowledged he would miss his self-imposed spring target of getting the Rwanda plan off the ground.

In the latest round of a lengthy back-and-forth between the House of Commons and the Lords, the House of Lords last week amended the bill to include an exception for Afghan nationals assisting British troops.

It also added a provision to the bill which meant that Rwanda could not be treated as safe unless an independent monitoring body deemed it so.

On Monday, the House of Commons rejected the two amendments, meaning the bill will later return to the Lords, where peers will choose whether to push for their changes.

Opening the debate in the House of Commons, Mr Tomlinson said: “It seems that I was indeed optimistic last week when I foresaw the end of ping-pong, and I looked forward to the time when we were not debating this particular piece of legislation . It’s disappointing to be here again.

“Of course the other place must assume its role as a review chamber and of course they have the right to ask the government to reconsider. But have we thought again and again?”

He added: “Enough is enough. The opposition has postponed this bill for too long, we must get on with it.

“I again urge this House to send an unequivocal message to the other place: the time has come for Labor Lords to respect the views of this House and pass this Bill now.”

Despite a majority in both votes, a large number of MPs urged the government to compromise in its approach to Afghan nationals and others who have helped British forces abroad.

DUP MP Jim Shannon (Strangford) said: “Doesn’t the Minister agree that there is a simple way out of this impasse, and that is to accept that those who can prove they helped British forces in Afghanistan?”

His DUP colleague Sammy Wilson (East Antrim) claimed Britain has a “moral obligation” to help Afghan nationals fleeing the Taliban because they have helped British troops.

Labor MP John McDonnell (Hayes and Harlington) said the measure “cannot in any way be seen as a destructive amendment”, adding: “I urge the other side to remain steadfast on this point, because I really think the British public supports this. amendment as well.”

Former Tory justice secretary Sir Robert Buckland called on ministers to show “a little more movement” on the issue.

He was the only Conservative MP who did not vote with the government.

But he was joined by former Tory minister Sir Jeremy Wright in his rebellion against the government over efforts to ensure Rwanda’s security is controlled by an outside body.

Mr Tomlinson said the government would not deport those eligible under the Afghan Relocations and Assistance Policy (Arap) to Rwanda.

“Once this review of the Arap decisions for those with credible links to Afghan specialist units is completed, the government will not remove to Rwanda those who have received a positive eligibility decision as a result of this review while they continue to already in Britain,” he said. said.

Shadow Immigration Secretary Stephen Kinnock told the House of Commons: “You could be forgiven for concluding that the truth is that ministers have deliberately raised this for two reasons.

“Firstly because they thought they could make some dirty political capital with the delay, and secondly because they are scrambling to get a flight organized and all the other logistics that are not yet in order.”

During a morning press conference, the Prime Minister acknowledged that it will take another ten to twelve weeks before the first plane carrying asylum seekers departs.

After that, there will be “several flights per month throughout the summer and beyond,” he said.

He blamed Labor opposition to the plan for the delay, saying MPs and peers would sit all night if necessary to get the Rwanda Security (Asylum and Immigration) Bill passed.

Tory former minister Tim Loughton told BBC Radio 4’s World At One program that he had his sleeping bag ready for the eventuality.

The Lords catering staff have made arrangements to provide refreshments in the evening.