Sunak to give Rwanda £50m if deportation bill passed into law

In an appearance before the public accounts committee, Sir Matthew Rycroft told MPs that the government will hand over the latest payment to the Rwandan regime once the deal goes through.

“I am an inveterate optimist, so I truly believe that one day the benches opposite will come to understand that hard graft and common sense are always more effective than the sugar rush of a tabloid front page.”

The ISU union, which represents frontline Border Force and immigration workers, said its members were concerned about potential physical resistance from people being taken into detention for Rwanda flights, and on the plane itself.

ISU professional officer Lucy Moreton said: “Given the undertaking that we will not send anyone with a criminal record to Rwanda, and given the high stakes involved, there is serious concern that migrants may take to assaulting staff as a way to avoid removal,” she said.

Meanwhile, the Times reported on Monday that Britain had also approached countries including Costa Rica, Armenia, Ivory Coast and Botswana in an effort to replicate the scheme.

They said: “Our focus right now is passing the safety of Rwanda bill, which builds on the Illegal Migration Act, and putting plans in place to get flights off the ground as soon as possible.”