The Government has dropped its Spring target for the first migrant flight to Rwanda.
In a blow to Prime Minister Rishi Sunak’s hopes of ending the Channel crisis, Number 10 refused to commit to the previous deadline amid a litany of delays.
The Rwanda Bill will return to the House of Commons on Monday for a fourth-round of ‘Parliamentary ping pong’ as Lords will not back down over demands to weaken the plans.
Pressed on whether spring was still the target, the Prime Minister’s Official Spokesman told reporters: “Our intention is to get this passed on Monday such that we can then set out the timetable for getting flights off as soon as possible.
“I’m not going to get ahead of the Bill passing, which obviously we’ve seen again last night has continued to be held up.
“We’re working at pace to ensure these flights leave as soon as possible. It’s now incumbent on the Lords to pass this Bill such that we can trigger the final planning phases and ultimately stop the boats.”
The spokesman refused four times to commit to the Spring target.
Asked whether Mr Sunak should take some blame for the delay, his spokesman said: “No, I don’t accept that. The Bill was brought forward within weeks, rapidly following the conclusions of the Supreme Court.”
Government sources said they privately expected Labour to allow the Bill to finally pass through Parliament on Wednesday, in the third round of ‘ping pong’.
But Sir Keir Starmer’s party decided to block the Bill’s passage again, further frustrating attempts to end the Channel migrant crisis.
Asylum seekers shortlisted for the first flight to Kigali cannot be officially notified until the Safety of Rwanda Bill receives Royal Assent.
And the final preparations once that has taken place – including legal challenges – are expected to take six weeks.
The House of Lords has voted to demand two changes – one to demand Afghans who worked with the UK military to be exempt from deportation to Rwanda and another to set up a “monitoring committee” to rule whether Rwanda is safe.
And Peers could be forced to work through the night on Monday if they continue thwarting attempts to get flights off the ground.
Ministers are set to “swiftly” order preparations for flights once the Bill gets Royal Assent, the Daily Express understands.
One option under consideration would be to use RAF Voyager planes that are leased from charter airliner AirTanker.
The firm leases 14 A330s to the military for tasks including transporting Ukrainians to the UK for training and evacuations from disasters.
Defence Secretary Grant Shapps on Thursday suggested the RAF planes may be used to deport asylum seekers to Rwanda.
Asked on Sky News whether the RAF would be used to transport the migrants in the absence of a private airline, he said: “It is a whole government effort so we will do whatever we need to do to make sure that the will of parliament.”
He added: “We will do whatever we need to do to make sure that we can get these flights off, whether they are chartered flights or any other type of flight.”
Mr Shapps blamed Sir Keir Starmer and Labour for delaying the first migrant flight to Rwanda.
He said: “If they don’t, it will be entirely because Keir Starmer will not let his Lords vote for it, or even stand down from voting against it. Labour have once again locked the ability for Parliament to pass this law. Labour don’t seem to have an answer, they don’t seem to want it to happen. It’s directly at Keir Starmer’s door if they don’t go.”
“I’m very surprised that Keir Starmer still sent his Labour peers, the Lords, to go and defeat this once again. I don’t think they can carry on doing that. Presumably next week that will be overturned. And I very much hope that flights can leave quickly because I haven’t heard a better alternative.
“I very much hope because I think it’s the only way to break this illegal people trafficking across the channel.”
