Rwanda bill latest news: James Cleverly vows ‘these tragedies have to stop’ as five migrants bound for Britain die crossing Channel hours after deportation flights approved by Parliament
Home Secretary James Cleverly has said tragedies in the English Channel “have to stop” after reports five people including a child have died in the stretch of water between Britain and France.
His remarks came just hours after MPs passed new legislation to send arrivals to Rwanda with Rishi Sunak insistent he would let nothing “stand in our way” to start sending asylum seekers to Africa on flights in July.
The tragedy was first reported by French media earlier today after the country’s coastguard launched a major rescue operation off Wimereux, close to Boulogne-sur-Mer.
Officials said three men had died alongside a woman and a child. Hundreds of people had reportedly set off for the UK from France this morning to take advantage of calm weather conditions.
For the latest updates follow MailOnline’s live coverage here
Yvette Cooper – Rwanda scheme is ‘extortionately expensive gimmick’
Shadow home secretary Yvette Cooper has promised Labour will replace the Rwanda scheme with an alternative plan to target criminal gangs and boost Britain’s border security.
Branding the scheme an “extortionately expensive gimmick”, Ms Cooper said the Government’s new law was not addressing the overall problem of small boats crossing the Channel.
Speaking to BBC Breakfast, she said:
This is not a serious plan to actually tackle the problem. It’s costing around half a billion pounds for just 300 people to be sent to Rwanda, that’s less than 1% of asylum seekers. It’s not addressing the 99%, it’s not addressing the overall problem.
That’s why Labour would replace the Rwanda scheme with a new plan to boost our border security, to go after the criminal gangs and their networks right across Europe.
Not just on the French coast, so that we prevent boats from reaching the French coast in the first place.
We’d also have stronger powers, stronger intelligence agreements, and new fast-track systems in the UK, so that we have a new returns and enforcement unit.
What happened in Parliament last night?
MPs finally passed Rishi Sunak’s flagship Rwanda bill in the early hours of this months after months of wrangling over the new legislation.
Peers in the House of Lords had this week been engaged in a tussle over the new law – called the Safety of Rwanda (Asylum and Immigration) Bill – on Monday in which they sent it back to the Commons five times in an attempt to secure amendments.
But after midnight the challenge had relented which paved the way for it to become law. Mr Sunak is hopeful that flights can take off in July with the first asylum seekers expected to be detained within the next few days.
Some £290 million has already been committed to the Rwanda scheme, with a further £100 million earmarked over the next two years.
Speaking today, Mr Sunak said: ““The passing of this landmark legislation is not just a step forward but a fundamental change in the global equation on migration.”
Where is Wimereux?
Wimereux is a coastal town around three miles north of Bolougne in the Hauts-de-France, the northernmost region in France.
What has happened today?
Here is the latest rundown of what you need to know this morning:
The French coastguard has confirmed five people, three men, one woman and a child understood to be a four-year-old girl, have died attempting to cross the English Channel.
A major rescue operation was launched off Wimereux, close to Boulogne-sur-Mer, at around 5am this morning when a “crowd movement” occurred in an overloaded boat carrying more than 110 people.
The tragedy comes just hours after MPs approved a new law to send asylum seekers to Rwanda with Rishi Sunak vowing flights will take off in July.
Home Secretary James Cleverly has reacted saying ” I will not accept a status quo which costs so many lives.”
Father watched young daughter ‘die before his eyes’ – refugee charity
A devastated father watched his young daughter drown in front of him, a refugee charity has said today.
Dany Patoux, of the Bolougne-based Osmose 62, said many witnessed the deaths of five people attempting to cross the Channel earlier this morning.
The French coastgaurd confirmed three men, a woman and a child, believed to be a four-year-old girl, had died.
We knew the little girl well. We have photos with her, with a big smile on her face, in the hope of a better life.
But now, everything is ruined. Her father fell into our arms right away. He was crying, in a daze. He saw his little daughter die before his eyes.
James Cleverly – These tragedies have to stop
James Cleverly spoke earlier after the deaths were first reported by French newspaper La Voix du Nord.
These tragedies have to stop. I will not accept a status quo which costs so many lives.
This Government is doing everything we can to end this trade, stop the boats and ultimately break the business model of the evil people smuggling gangs, so they no longer put lives at risk.
Child confirmed among the dead
The French Coastguard has confirmed five people have died attempting to cross the channel.
Around 5am this morning, a small boat (with more than 10 people) set sail; from German beach (Wimereux).
After an initial stranding on a sandbank, the boat set out to sea again. A crowd movement apparently occurred in the overloaded boat, causing several victims.
French media say the child was a four-year-old girl
Good morning
We will bring you live coverage today following the deaths of five people attempting to cross the Channel from France to Britain.
The latest tragedy comes just hours after Parliament passed new legislation to remove asylum seekers to Rwanda with Rishi Sunak hopeful flights can take off in July.