Just 7 asylum seekers are now to be flown to Rwanda on a @ukhomeoffice charter flight tonight. The 767 of the 200 seats are likely to have cost ρια 0.5 million, but Ministers say it is important to establish the principle. – Mark Easton (@BBCMarkEaston) June 14, 2022 Updated at 09.43 BST
Tras responds to bishops by saying Rwanda’s expulsion policy ‘shames Britain’, saying they have no alternative plan
Good morning. This afternoon the first flight is scheduled to depart from the United Kingdom carrying asylum seekers crossing the Channel on a one-way trip to Rwanda. It is the first flight scheduled under a policy announced earlier this year and described by Home Secretary Tom Pursglove to the Commons on Monday as a “world first” and part of a “world-leading immigration and economic development partnership with Rwanda”. This would “change the way we collectively deal with illegal immigration.” There is a different assessment of the benefits of politics in the Times this morning, where all 25 bishops and archbishops in the House of Lords signed a letter saying it was an “immoral policy” that “shames Britain”. The whole letter follows. Whether the first deportation flight leaves Britain today for Rwanda or not, this policy should embarrass us as a nation. Rwanda is a brave country recovering from catastrophic genocide. The shame is ours, because our Christian heritage should inspire us to treat asylum seekers with compassion, justice and fairness, as we have done for centuries. Those deported to Rwanda had no opportunity to appeal or be reunited with their families in Britain. They had not considered their application for asylum, recognition of their medical or other needs, or any attempt to understand their condition. Many are desperate people escaping the untold horror. Many are Iranian, Eritrean and Sudanese, with at least 88% asylum seekers. These were the people that Jesus had in mind as he said when we offer hospitality to a stranger, we do it for him. They are the vulnerable that the Old Testament calls us to appreciate. We cannot offer asylum to everyone, but we must not delegate our moral responsibilities to third parties or reject international law – which protects the right to seek asylum. We must end the bad trade. many churches are involved in its fight. This requires global cooperation at every level of society. To reduce dangerous travel to the UK we need safe routes: the church will continue to support them. But deportations – and the possible forced return of asylum seekers to their home countries – are not the way. This immoral policy shames Britain. Liz Truss, the Foreign Secretary, was in an interview with the government this morning and rejected the claim of the leaders of the Church of England. She told Sky News: I do not agree [the letter], the people who are immoral in this case are the traffickers of people who trade human misery. These people need to come up with an alternative policy that will work. Our policy is perfectly legal, it is absolutely moral. What I say to policy critics who have no alternative to how we deal with this illegal immigration is that they have no alternative, they criticize our policy that is effective and works. Only about seven or eight asylum seekers are still scheduled to be on the flight tonight. Initially, the number was much higher, but many people managed to stop their removal orders by going to court. Further legal challenges are set to take place today and some government sources said this could lead to the flight being canceled before its scheduled departure time of 21:30. But in interviews this morning, Trash said the flight would depart tonight. He told the Today program: What I can say is that the flight will depart tonight for Rwanda and if people are not in flight today, they will be on next flights. Asked if she said she could leave without asylum, she replied: I’m sure there will be people in it. What I can not say is how many people will be in it. But the important thing is that we establish the principle, that we introduce the deterrent to prevent these gangs of human traffickers from the horrible human misery in which they trade. Here’s the agenda for the day. 9.30 am: Boris Johnson chairs the cabinet. 10 a.m .: The Supreme Court is expected to hear further legal action on behalf of individual asylum seekers facing deportation to Rwanda on a flight departing tonight. 10 a.m .: Lord Geidt, Independent Adviser on Ministerial Standards, submits to the Commons Committee on Public Administration and Constitutional Affairs. 11 a.m.: Nicholas Sturgeon, Scotland’s first minister, holds a press conference to present the first of a series of documents supporting Scotland’s independence. 11.30: Downing Street briefs the lobby. 12.15 pm: Robert Corts, Minister of Aviation, testifies to the Communities Business Committee on flight cancellations. After 12.30pm: Deputies begin debating a Labor Party proposal to blame Kevin Foster, the minister for legal immigration, for handling the crisis at the Passport Office. 2.30pm: Dame Vera Baird, Victims ‘Commissioner for England and Wales, testifies before the Commons Justice Committee on the draft victims’ law. I try to follow the comments below the line (BTL) but it is impossible to read them all. If you have a direct question, include “Andrew” somewhere and I will be more likely to find it. I’m trying to answer questions and if it is of general interest, I will post the question and answer over the line (ATL), although I can not promise to do it for everyone. If you want to get my attention quickly, it’s probably best to use Twitter. I’m at @AndrewSparrow. Alternatively, you can email me at [email protected] Updated at 09.30 BST
