Minister urges MPs and peers to back Rwanda bill as likely final day of debate begins

Michael Tomlinson has urged MPs and peers to back the government’s Rwanda bill before what is likely to be a marathon final day of parliamentary debate for its long-delayed asylum scheme.

The minister for countering illegal migration told the Commons that the government was determined to pass the bill unamended, despite several attempts by members of the House of Lords to make changes to it.

Sunak has put the bill, which would deport all asylum seekers to Rwanda for processing, at the centre of his attempts to stop small boats crossing the Channel.

Many peers and MPs had hoped the government would offer concessions on the two remaining amendments – one aimed at exempting Afghans who have worked with the British military from the scheme, and one establishing a monitoring committee to certify Rwanda as safe before flights take off.

The minister told MPs the government would not remove anyone who was found to have credible links to the British forces in Afghanistan, adding that the home secretary had the power to overrule any individual deportation should he choose.

Sunak sought on Monday to blame Labour members in the House of Lords for the delay in passing the bill, even though the government previously decided not to push it through when there was parliamentary time available.