Rishi Sunak has conceded that the issue of Channel crossings won't be solved 'overnight' as the UK marks one year since the landmark deal was agreed.
Nearly 45,000 people have arrived in the UK on small boats since the government signed its"world-first" deal to send asylum seekers to Rwanda, new analysis shows.
A review of government figures by the Press Association shows that since 1 January, almost 5,000 people have crossed the Channel into the UK, including more than 1,000 in the last week alone. A year ago today, the government - then led by Boris Johnson - announced the deal with the east African nation. But 365 days on, no flights have taken off due to legal challenges lodged against the policy.
In November, it was confirmed the government had spent at least £140m on the programme so far. The first deportation flight was due to take off last June, but was grounded by a legal challenge from the European Court of Human Rights .for his first year in office.conceded his plan to stop small boats"won't happen overnight"And when asked if he would achieve that by the next general election - widely expected to take place in 2024 - Mr Sunak appeared to dodge the question.
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