Prime Minister Rishi Sunak is determined to push through a law on the deportation of immigrants to Rwanda, despite opposition from the House of Lords. The process of the law bouncing back and forth between the two houses until one side concedes is referred to as “parliamentary ping-pong”. A group of independent and Labour lords have been adding amendments to the text, causing delays. Sunak is adamant about starting deportations to Rwanda by July and is prepared to keep Parliament in session until the matter is resolved.
The Prime Minister has faced opposition from both the Upper House and lower house, with demands to exclude Afghan collaborators and calls for an independent review of Rwanda’s safety for immigrants. A lengthy session of debate and voting is expected, with the Government standing firm on their current text but potentially considering amendments regarding Afghan collaborators. Sunak has already made preparations for deportations, including training personnel and securing flights to Rwanda.
The deportation law was initially proposed by Boris Johnson and has since become a central issue for Sunak’s administration. Challenges from courts, Parliament, and public opinion have made the process difficult, leading to the introduction of the Rwanda Safety Bill to expedite deportations. Sunak is under pressure to secure a parliamentary victory before local elections in May, where the Conservative Party is facing potential losses. While Sunak has expressed a desire to avoid early elections, internal party tensions could push him towards that decision in the face of election setbacks.
