Rwanda removal flights will continue 'indefinitely' until migrants stop crossing the Channel by small boat, the Home Secretary vowed last night.
James Cleverly insisted that the Home Office's behind-the-scenes planning to initiate the scheme was 'robust' – and confirmed a number of flights had already been booked.
He made his most detailed remarks yet about the impending launch of the Rwanda scheme during a visit to Lampedusa, the tiny Italian island in the southern Mediterranean which lies on the front line of illegal migration from North Africa.
His comments came as it emerged that police had arrested three men over the deaths of five migrants, including a child, who drowned attempting to cross the Channel from France.
The men – two Sudanese nationals aged 22 and 19, and a South Sudan national aged 22 – were detained on Tuesday night, the National Crime Agency said.
Rwanda removal flights will continue 'indefinitely' until migrants stop crossing the Channel by small boat, Home Secretary James Cleverly vowed while on a trip to Lampedusa, Italy
He made his most detailed remarks yet about the impending launch of the Rwanda scheme during a visit to the tiny Italian island in the southern Mediterranean which lies on the front line of illegal migration from North Africa
Mr Cleverly pledged that the first deportation flight to Rwanda will leave in 'ten to 12 weeks'
James Cleverly toured a police patrol boat in Lampedusa while discussing illegal migration
Pledging that the first flight will take off in 'ten to 12 weeks', Mr Cleverly told the Mail: 'We have got a legally sound, operationally sound and morally sound plan of action. We've got plans in place that will facilitate multiple flights per month, indefinitely.
'We have seen a significant number of individuals and organisations do everything they can to disrupt and delay and to prevent these flights from happening.
'The last thing I want to do is aid them in their disruption of our plan by giving away too much operational detail.
'But the point is that we have booked a number of initial flights and we have got the facility to continue booking flights on a regular drumbeat through the summer.
'There is no limit on the number of flights. This will stop when the boats stop.'
In his first interview since new Rwanda laws cleared their final stages in Parliament earlier this week, the Home Secretary added: 'We absolutely know that our planning is robust.'
Royal Assent of the Safety of Rwanda Bill – expected as early as today – will let the Home Office 'start finalising' the next stages, he said.
The separate treaty with Rwanda – another key element – is due to be ratified in days.
Last night Ryanair chief Michael O'Leary made a cheeky bid for the government contract to carry deportees, telling Bloomberg that in the right circumstances, 'we would happily quote for the business'.
