UK Health Secretary Victoria Atkins has announced that flights deporting asylum seekers to Rwanda could commence within weeks, although no specific airline has been named to undertake these operations. This follows Prime Minister Rishi Sunak’s statement that he anticipates the scheme will begin by spring, pending the successful passage of the Safety of Rwanda Bill through Parliament. The bill aims to safeguard this deportation plan against legal challenges and is set to undergo further debate.

The initiative faced obstacles when Rwanda’s state-owned airline, RwandAir, reportedly declined a proposal to transport asylum seekers, citing concerns over the scheme’s controversial nature. Despite this, UK government sources express confidence in securing the necessary transport means once legislative hurdles are cleared.

Sunak has stressed the importance of the bill, which not only designates Rwanda as a safe country for deportations but also grants ministers the power to override emergency injunctions, thereby facilitating smoother execution of the plan. However, there are reported divisions within the Cabinet regarding the broader implications of the policy, particularly concerning adherence to the European Convention on Human Rights. Key figures such as Chancellor Jeremy Hunt and Home Secretary James Cleverly have voiced apprehensions about departing from the convention.

The Labour Party has been accused of hindering the bill’s progress in Parliament. The outcome of these legislative efforts will determine the future of the deportation scheme as the government tackles both political and logistical challenges to implement its immigration policies.