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- The UK will fly asylum seekers to Rwanda within no more than 10 to 12 weeks, Prime Minister Rishin Sunak said on Monday.
- He said an airfield is on standby, and flights are booked.
- The House of Lords still has reservations about the plan.
British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said on Monday the first flight carrying asylum seekers to Rwanda would leave in 10-12 weeks, as he set out plans for for his flagship policy to tackle illegal migration.
Speaking to reporters from his Downing Street office, Sunak said he would not outline the exact operational details of the plan, but said the government had made detailed preparations.
"I can confirm that we've put an airfield on standby, booked commercial charter planes for specific slots, and we have 500 highly trained individuals ready to escort illegal migrants all the way to Rwanda with 300 more trained in the coming weeks," Sunak said.
"We are ready. Plans are in place. And these flights will go come what may."
Sunak promised that parliament would pass legislation seen by the government as crucial to overcoming existing legal barriers to the scheme, under which the government wants to start sending asylum seekers arriving illegally in Britain to Rwanda to have their claims processed.
The House of Lords has sought to impose restrictions and conditions on the plan, largely to ensure the safety and dignified handling of those sent to Rwanda.
Facing an election later this year that he is widely expected to lose, Sunak is hoping for a popularity boost by getting flights to Rwanda started as soon as possible to try to meet his pledge to "stop the boats" crossing to Britain.
Thousand of people illegally cross the channel between France and England on small boats every year.
