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Boris Johnson said he was “aware” he had been to Rwanda before one of the government’s migrant flights arrived in the country, as he defended his “relocation” policy.
The Prime Minister has just landed in Kigali as he attends the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (Chogm).
Speaking to reporters as he prepared for his flight, Mr Johnson said: “I am aware that I arrive before anyone who has traveled illegally across the English Channel, I cannot hide that fact from you – there he is. – but it is still the case that no UK court and no international court has found our plan illegal.”
The UK entered into a partnership agreement with Rwanda two months ago to allow the government to deport migrants who arrive in the UK illegally.
But the policy has been the subject of repeated legal challenges and the first flight to Rwanda was stopped after an intervention by European judges.
The government remains firmly committed to this policy and Mr Johnson said his visit to Rwanda was an opportunity “for all of us to see for ourselves what this partnership has to offer”. He added, “Let’s hopefully help others get rid of some of their condescending attitudes towards Rwanda and how this partnership might work.”
Follow the latest updates below.
09:07
Soaring debt interest charges Sunak to borrow £14bn
Rishi Sunak borrowed a further £14billion last month as debt interest payments hit £7.6billion, the highest on record in May, the Office for National Statistics said.
The cost of servicing the debt is 50% higher than the £5.1bn forecast by the Office for Budget Responsibility, as rampant inflation drives up the cost of servicing the national debt.
About a quarter of the £2 trillion national debt is tied to the retail price index inflation measure, which jumped to 11.7% last month.
You can follow the latest updates on our live company blog here.
09:06
Union boss accuses Grant Shapps of stalling talks progress
Mick Lynch, general secretary of the RMT union, has accused Grant Shapps and the government of preventing progress in negotiations between the union, Network Rail and the rail operating companies.
Mr Lynch told the BBC: ‘So there’s a lot of brainstorming but you have to make it a concrete proposal and that’s the sticky part of the equation and I think that’s the government in the form of Grant Shapps and the Treasury preventing these ideas from coming forward.
“If we were dealing with the companies on their own accord and of their own free will, I think we would have reached an agreement on these issues long enough.
“But the hand of government is in there and they’re a silent partner at the table and companies are leaving the room, going to consult with government ministers and department officials and when they come back often it’s worse than before that we took the adjournment.
“That’s one of the situations is that there’s a third party in those meetings and they’re influencing him in a very negative way.”
08:51
Other ‘extremely likely’ rail strikes
Only one in five trains are running today as railway workers stage their second national strike of the week. Another walkout is scheduled for Saturday.
Mick Lynch, general secretary of the Rail, Maritime and Transport (RMT) union, said this morning that it is ‘extremely likely’ there will be more strikes in the coming months if the dispute over wages, jobs and the conditions is not solved.
When asked if there would be any more strikes, he told BBC Breakfast: “We will review this. We’ll be back next week when everyone’s back to work, we’ll consult with our members, we’ll see where the negotiations are, we’ll continue to talk to businesses about whatever’s been on the table and we’ll look at that and see if and when there should be a new phase of industrial action.
“But if we don’t get a settlement, it’s extremely likely there will be.”
08:44
Prime Minister will not visit migrant accommodation in Rwanda
Downing Street has said Boris Johnson will not visit accommodation to be used by migrants under the Rwandan government’s “relocation” plan during his trip to Kigali.
The Prime Minister’s official spokesperson said: ‘You know the Prime Minister’s time is always limited and to make the time to do that, he should therefore leave elements of the program he works in with a unique set of leaders worldwide on very crucial issues.
“We think the best use of his time during this short time that he is in Rwanda is to focus on some of the issues that will be raised at the summit and to work with other world leaders on some of these issues that we we talked about, including Ukraine and global security.
08:40
Boris Johnson: the Rwandan plan is “reasonable” and “measured”
Boris Johnson has defended his policy on Rwandan migrants and insisted it is ‘reasonable’ and ‘measured’ ahead of his meeting with the Prince of Wales tomorrow.
Reporters asked him before his flight to Kigali if he would tell Prince Charles he was wrong to privately criticize politics (see post below at 08:36).
Mr Johnson said: ‘I have no evidence for the claim you have just made about the Prince’s comments. I cannot confirm it.
“What I can say is the policy is sensible, measured and a plan to deal with the grotesque abuses of innocent people crossing the Channel.”
08:36
PM to tell Prince Charles he’s ‘proud’ of migrant plan
Boris Johnson is ready to declare himself “proud” of his Rwandan migration policy during discussions with the Prince of Wales Friday, The Telegraph understands.
The couple will meet for the first time since emerging as Prince privately describes the planned deportation asylum seekers in the country as “appalling”.
The meeting will take place in Rwanda itself as the pair attend the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting.
Clarence House described the gathering scheduled for Friday morning as Mr Johnson ‘grabbed for a cup of tea’ with the prince.
You can Read the full story here.
08:33
Boris Johnson slams ‘condescending’ critics of Rwanda plan
Boris Johnson has denounced “condescending” criticism of his plan to send asylum seekers to Rwanda.
Speaking to reporters as he prepared to fly to Kigali, Mr Johnson said the trip was an opportunity “for all of us to see for ourselves what this partnership has to offer”.
“Maybe hopefully help others get rid of some of their condescending attitudes towards Rwanda and how this partnership could work,” he added.
08:32
PM ‘aware’ of arriving in Rwanda ahead of migrant flights
Boris Johnson told reporters before his flight to Rwanda overnight that he was “aware” he was arriving in the country ahead of one of the government’s planned migrant flights.
The partnership agreement between the government and Rwanda was reached two months ago, but the first migrant flight was halted following an intervention by European judges.
Mr Johnson said: “I am aware that I come before anyone else who has traveled illegally across the Channel, I cannot hide that fact from you – that’s it – but it is still true that no UK court and no court international has deemed our plan illegal.
08:31
Boris Johnson arrives in Rwanda
Boris Johnson arrived in Kigali, Rwanda just before 7am UK time.
The Prime Minister attends the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (Chogm).
Mr Johnson was accompanied on the trip by his wife, Carrie Johnson.
08:29
Hello
Hello and welcome to today’s Politics Live Blog.
Voters head to the polls in the Wakefield and Tiverton and Honiton by-elections as Boris Johnson has just arrived in Rwanda to attend the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting.
Meanwhile, another day of strikes takes place on the national railways.
I’ll walk you through the key developments.
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