The Rwanda Bill returned to the House of Commons, to little fanfare. The Government used its still solid majority to quash 10 amendments from peers in the upper house, and so the legislation looks set to finally become law.
Yet even when rebuffed, the House of Lords retains the power to frustrate. Peers are threatening to delay the bill for weeks, perhaps even months, which would prevent any deportation flights to Kigali. This might cost the Prime Minister far more than the £1,000 he bet Piers Morgan.
At the start of 2023, Rishi Sunak made stopping the boats one of his five key priorities. The power to deport migrants to Rwanda was to form a key part of that, even if the permanent secretary at the Home Office acknowledges there is insufficient evidence it will act as a deterrent.
The value for money case is also unclear. The Rwanda scheme could cost taxpayers almost £2 million for each of the first 300 asylum seekers sent to Kigali, according to the National Audit Office.
The British public has a right to expect that the Government exercises control over who comes to this country, whether seeking asylum or for work. It has yet to demonstrate that the Rwanda Bill is capable of achieving any of its ambitious aims.
Rethink on Thatcher
BaronessThatcher was a divisive figure, not least within the Conservative Party. Still, even her fiercest critics would consider describing Britain’s first female prime minister as a “contemporary villain” alongside Adolf Hitler and Osama Bin Laden to be deeply distasteful.
The Victoria and Albert Museum has said it will review exhibit text on its display about British humour which made the connection. It ought to. Reasonable opponents of Thatcher may have disliked privatisation, or opposed the Falklands War, but would not place her in the same breath as genocidal dictators or terrorists.
Comedy may be subjective, but objective truth still matters.
Rage on the road
Would you cycle in the capital? Infrastructure has improved, but many casual riders are still fearful for their lives every time they take to the road.
That is where the broadcaster Jeremy Vine and Mike van Erp come in. Vine posts his footage to social media, while van Erp has reported more than 1,700 drivers for traffic offences since 2019, resulting in over 2,500 penalty points and £150,000 in fines.
For ignoring red lights and zebra crossing, some cyclists are not necessarily angels of the road. But if you are a motorist who hates them, there is a decent chance you are doing something dangerous.
