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Added on the 15/11/2023 11:44:06 - Copyright : AFPTV - First images
Images outside UK Supreme Court in London ahead of a ruling on whether a controversial government plan to send migrants to Rwanda is lawful, which the Conservative government argues is crucial to reduce small boat arrivals across the Channel. IMAGES
The UK's Supreme Court declines to hear an appeal by lawyers representing an asylum seeker who is set to be sent to Rwanda on a government deportation flight, meaning the flight can go ahead. Judge Robert Reed rules that there was no basis for the Supreme Court to take up a challenge against a Court of Appeals ruling on the issue. The first flight is set to take off from the UK for Kigali on the evening of Tuesday 14 June 2022, with the government saying the policy will deter migrants from crossing the English Channel in small boats. SOUNDBITE
British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak tells the House of Commons he has "absolute conviction" in his government's plan to send migrants to Rwanda ahead of a vote in parliament on the bill which has exposed schisms in his ruling Conservative party. The Safety of Rwanda (Asylum and Immigration) Bill, if passed, will compel judges to treat Rwanda as a safe third country and proposes giving UK ministers powers to disregard sections of international and British human rights legislation. SOUNDBITE
UK lawmakers vote in favour of the government's latest plans for sending migrants to Rwanda, which has split Prime Minister Rishi Sunak's ruling Conservative party. A knife-edge parliamentary vote in the House of Commons sees 313 MPs vote for the so-called Safety of Rwanda (Asylum and Immigration) Bill, with 269 against. IMAGES
British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak says the UK and Rwanda are eyeing a new deal on asylum seekers, after Britain's highest court ruled that removing migrants to the African country was unlawful. "If it becomes clear that our domestic legal frameworks or international conventions are still frustrating plans at that point, I am prepared to change our laws and revisit those international relationships," he tells lawmakers during the weekly prime minister's questions in parliament. SOUNDBITE
Supporters of Zambian President Lungu hold a rally in Lusaka during a tense presidential race, which has been marked by clashes between rival supporters. The presidential election will take place on Thursday. IMAGES.