The British Parliament has approved a bill to deport Rwandan migrants
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The British Parliament has approved a bill to deport Rwandan migrants

British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak finally won parliamentary approval on Tuesday, hours after promising deportation flights would begin in July.

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The parliamentary deadlock that had blocked the bill for two months was finally broken shortly after midnight when the unelected House of Lords “recognized primacy” of the elected Lower House and abandoned the last amendments he proposed, which opened the way for the adoption of the law.

Earlier on Monday, Rishi Sunak held a rare morning press conference to ask the Lords to stop blocking his proposal to stem the tide of migrants crossing the channel in small boats, vowing to keep both houses of parliament in session until it was approved.

The legislative impasse is just the latest obstacle to delaying the implementation of the plan, which has been repeatedly blocked by a series of court rulings and opposition from human rights advocates who say it is illegal and inhumane. Migrant advocates have vowed to continue fighting the plan.

“For almost two years, our opponents have used every possible strategy to block the fight and ensure that the boats keep coming in”Mr. Sunak told reporters Monday morning in London. “But enough is enough, no more delay, no more delay.”

The government plans to deport some of the people who enter the UK illegally to Rwanda in a bid to deter migrants risking their lives on makeshift boats in the hope of being able to claim asylum once they reach the UK.

Despite parliament’s approval of the bill, further legal challenges could still delay deportation flights, said Tim Bale, professor of politics at Queen Mary University of London.

“I don’t think things have to be cut and dry.”did he state. “We will see attempts to legally block deportations.”

Rishi Sunak staked his political future on deportation flights, promising that “stop the boats”, a key element of his speech to voters. Next week’s local elections are seen as a barometer of how the parties will fare in the general election.

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