UK parliament’s upper house delays Sunak’s Rwanda scheme again

17/4/2024 6:34

        Britain's upper house of parliament again defeated Rishi Sunak's plans to send asylum seekers to Rwanda on Tuesday, proposing changes that will delay but not block a policy the prime minister hopes could help change his party's electoral fortunes.
        
        Sunak has invested huge political capital in the Rwanda scheme before an election later this year he is predicted to lose, saying it will help meet his pledge to stop thousands of people arriving in Britain without permission in small boats.
        
        The House of Lords, Britain's unelected upper house, for a third time sought to make changes to the new legislation after the House of Commons lower house of parliament rejected its second set of proposals on Monday.
        
        But the move is unlikely to stop the legislation from getting approval this week, meaning it will become law. Sunak hopes to start flights to Rwanda as soon as possible, but the scheme might still be challenged in the courts.