PM admits no precise date for govt 'stop the boats' pledge
Rishi Sunak has admitted there is no precise date for when the government will fulfil its pledge to "stop the boats".
He refused to answer if the government had found an airline willing to operate its deportation flights to Rwanda, but said he was focused on passing the legislation through Parliament and see the first flights off by spring. Report by Alibhaiz. Like us on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/itn and follow us on Twitter at http://twitter.com/itn
He refused to answer if the government had found an airline willing to operate its deportation flights to Rwanda, but said he was focused on passing the legislation through Parliament and see the first flights off by spring. Report by Alibhaiz. Like us on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/itn and follow us on Twitter at http://twitter.com/itn
Transcript
00:00 When will you stop the boats?
00:02 Well, the first thing to say is we have made progress and that is that the numbers this year are down by a third, which is considerable progress.
00:11 They're still the second highest on record though, aren't they, this year?
00:15 They are, for the first ever time, down.
00:18 They're still the second highest, but what is the date?
00:21 Well, there isn't a firm date on this because I've always been clear from the beginning.
00:24 You said you were going to stop the boats, so I just want to know what the date is.
00:27 We're not going until we do, but this is not one of these things where there's a precise date.
00:30 You've said that you want to see planes take off by the spring to Rwanda. That's one of the things you've said.
00:37 Now, I understand that no airline is willing to actually contract with government to remove people to Rwanda because of reputational damage.
00:45 Is that correct? There isn't an airline that you've got lined up to remove people?
00:49 In terms of timing, I'd say I want to get flights off as soon as practically possible.
00:55 You need some planes to do that.
00:57 We do, but we also need to be able to pass the legislation through Parliament first.
01:00 But on the plane point, which I'm asking you specifically about, do you have an airline that's ready to go?
01:04 I'm confident we will have the ability to send people to Rwanda, but there are many steps.
01:09 But you don't have an airline?
01:10 Again, you wouldn't expect me to comment on commercial conversations.