A man has been arrested in Gateshead by police investigating genocide and crimes against humanity that took place 30 years ago in Rwanda. The 69-year-old was questioned over the 1994 genocide in which 800,000 people were killed. Specialists from the Counter Terrorism Policing War Crimes Team worked with Counter Terrorism Policing North East to make […]
Rishi Sunak‘s flagship Rwanda Bill will face its first test in the House of Lords later. Peers will debate the main principles of the legislation, with the Lib Dems pushing to kill the bill in its entirety. The “fatal” motion is expected to fail, but peers are expected to try to strip out key powers […]
First blood has been drawn by peers over Rishi Sunak’s controversial Rwanda deportation plan. Inflicting a defeat against the UK government, the House of Lords backed by 214 votes to 171, majority 43, an unprecedented move seeking to delay a treaty with the east African nation that paves the way for the divisive asylum scheme. […]
The 11 Conservative MPs who defied the prime minister over his Rwanda migrant plan last week are being called in by the government to explain themselves. The Tory backbenchers, including the former Home Secretary Suella Braverman and the former immigration minister Robert Jenrick, are expected to meet the government’s Chief Whip Simon Hart later. Mr […]
Félix Tshisekedi is being sworn in for a second term as Democratic Republic of Congo president following a chaotic, disputed election. He has another five years to improve the fortunes of a nation where more than 70% of people live in extreme poverty and decades of conflict have plagued the lives of millions. So can […]
Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has urged the House of Lords to pass his flagship Rwanda bill, as he warned peers not to “frustrate the will of the people”. Giving a press conference after the legislation was approved by MPs, Mr Sunak said it was now up to the Lords to “do the right thing”. But […]
Rishi Sunak has succeeded in getting his key Rwanda bill through the House of Commons after a Tory rebellion failed to materialise. The bill, which aims to stop legal challenges against ministers’ plans to send asylum seekers to Rwanda, was approved by 320 votes to 276 votes. Dozens of Tories thought the bill was flawed […]
Rishi Sunak’s flagship Rwanda deportation legislation survived a right-wing Conservative rebellion after would-be rebels announced they would not vote down an unchanged Bill. The UK prime minister saw the Safety of Rwanda Bill pass its third reading in the House of Commons by a majority of 44 on Wednesday evening. More than 60 Tory MPs […]
The “majority” of Conservative rebels are expected to back the UK prime minister’s Rwanda Bill after holding an 11th hour meeting in Parliament. A Conservative rebel source said they expected the Safety of Rwanda Bill to pass “quite comfortably” during its third reading in the Commons, with only a “small number” of MPs voting down […]
As things stand, the UK government’s plan to send some asylum seekers to Rwanda is costing at least £290m – and it is still nowhere near take-off. Rishi Sunak’s proposal to make the currently unlawful scheme a reality is shaping up to be politically and legally explosive with potential fights in both Parliament and the […]
Rishi Sunak is facing a crucial vote on his Rwanda bill, after two Conservative deputy chairmen and a ministerial aide resigned to rebel over the issue. On Tuesday Lee Anderson, Brendan Clarke-Smith and Jane Stevenson stepped down to vote for changes they said would toughen up the legislation. In a blow to the PM’s authority, […]
Three resignations. And a substantial chunk of Conservative MPs – 60 – defying the prime minister. That is a hefty assault on Rishi Sunak‘s authority. Just moments before a vote on one of the big proposed changes to the government’s Rwanda plan, a WhatsApp pops up on my phone. I am standing on a balcony […]