MPs reject Lords' amendments to Rwanda bill - as crunch week for legislation begins

Parliament passes Rwanda Bill after months of back and forth

The government's controversial Rwanda Bill has finally been passed in Parliament after months of back and forth between the House of Commons and House of Lords. It will now head for Royal Assent before becoming law. Report by Alibhaiz. Like us on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/itn and follow us on Twitter at http://twitter.com/itn

Minister blames Labour for Rwanda bill delay

Responding to the record numbers of migrants arriving in the UK after crossing the English Channel, Gillian Keegan blames Labour for slowing the progress of the government’s Rwanda Bill. The education secretary says, "It is now stuck in the House of Lords and the House of Commons, held up by Labour MPs and Labour peers.” Report by Blairm. Like us on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/itn and follow us on Twitter at http://twitter.com/itn

Leadsom: Labour determined not to stop the small boats

Dame Andrea Leadsom, hit out at Labour after Rishi Sunak’s Rwanda deportation plan has been hit by further delay after defiant peers dug their heels in and inflicted a series of fresh defeats against the controversial policy. Leadsom insisted that the defeat in the House of Lords was a “result of Labour’s determination not to stop the small boats.” Report by Covellm. Like us on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/itn and follow us on Twitter at http://twitter.com/itn

Sunak says he is 'determined to get Rwanda scheme through'

Rishi Sunak has expressed his hopes of getting the Rwanda bill through parliament and flights up and running by Spring. It comes as MPs are set to vote on the House of Lords amendments to the bill today. In November, the Supreme Court ruled the African nation isn't a safe place to send asylum seekers. "We aim to get a flight off in the Spring. It's important that we get the Rwanda scheme up and running because we need a deterrent," Mr Sunak said. Report by Kennedyl. Like us on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/itn and follow us on Twitter at http://twitter.com/itn

UK's Rwanda migrant plan raises tensions with Ireland

Labour MP brands Tory Minister embarrassing after TV blunder

Shadow Business Secretary Jonathan Reynolds described a government minister's appearance on Question Time as "incredibly embarrassing" after he appeared to ask if Rwanda and Congo were different countries. When discussing the government policy of deporting asylum seekers to Rwanda, policing minister Chris Philp responded to an audience member’s question during the BBC One programme by asking: “Rwanda is a different country of Congo, isn’t it?” Mr Reynolds said the Rwanda scheme has caused "significant damage to the reputation of the UK around the world." The government's Rwanda bill, which was passed in parliament last week, says any asylum seeker entering the UK "illegally" after 1 January 2022, from a safe country such as France, could be sent to Rwanda. Report by Kennedyl. Like us on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/itn and follow us on Twitter at http://twitter.com/itn