The prime minister is getting closer to unveiling proposals to transport asylum seekers to Rwanda for processing and settlement, according to The Times. The Home Office did not deny the allegations, with a spokesman telling Sky News: “As set out in our New Immigration Plan, we are committed to working closely with a number of international partners as we continue to repair our damaged asylum system.” The newspaper reports that the plans, which were to be announced last week during the rise of migrants trying to cross the English Channel, could cost the UK “millions”. The initial report contained a government source stating that the plans were “close” but not yet “ready”. It is suggested that the ministers are said to be waiting for the bill on the nationality and borders of the Minister of Interior Priti Patel to be passed by the Lords. Use the Chrome browser for a more accessible video player 0:42 Immigrants try to sneak in trucks bound for the United Kingdom Reaction to the bill on nationality and borders The bill, which has been described as “barbaric” by critics, returned to the Commons last month, having been largely amended by its counterparts in the House of Lords. Three Conservative MPs, former ministers David Davis, Andrew Mitchell and Simon Hoar, have revolted against the government over plans contained in the bill for an offshore processing system for asylum seekers. But their efforts to change the government’s controversial asylum and immigration reforms have been unsuccessful. Mr Mitchell questioned the cost of such a policy, suggesting to ministers that housing asylum seekers at the Ritz or Eton would be cheaper than relocating the process abroad. Read more: What is the bill on nationality and borders? Mr Davis described the move as a “creation of a British Guantanamo Bay” and said it would be a “moral, economic and practical failure”. The legislation will now be returned to the Lords for peers to reconsider in what is known as “parliamentary table tennis”. Use the Chrome browser for a more accessible video player 5:28 Channel’s immigrant smuggling agent defends his role in trade Offshore processing “could appear in Queen’s Speech” An announcement on offshore processing could appear in the Queen’s Speech next month if the bill wins the royal consensus before it. At least 4,550 people have arrived in the UK by small boat so far in 2022, according to data compiled by Sky News. This number was not reached until mid-June last year. The Ministry of Interior did not comment on reports related to specific countries. There have been similar attempts to process migrants in Albania and Ghana in the past, but they have failed. Read more: Nearly 60,000 are about to cross the Channel in 2022 Ascension Island, a UK overseas territory more than 4,000 miles away, was also recently proposed as a destination, although last month Home Secretary Tom Pursglove said it was “untrue” to suggest that the island it was a choice. Use the Chrome browser for a more accessible video player 3:05 Immigrants in Calais say deaths are not “deterrent” The minister says there is “clear logic” to the policy In January, Ms. Patel confirmed that she had asked the Department of Defense to outsource the Royal Navy to police small vessels crossing the Channel. It was reported that the plans – nicknamed Operation Big Dog – were made to save Mr Johnson’s prime minister, as he faced calls to resign over the downdown scandal at Downing Street parties.
