Rishi Sunak has refused to name a date for when the first flight will take asylum seekers to Rwanda.

The prime minister has given his full backing to the policy – first introduced by Boris Johnson – that would see those arriving in the UK via small boat crossings or other illegal means deported to the African country to have their asylum claims assessed.

But despite having pledged to get flights off the ground in the spring, Mr Sunak would not give reporters a firm date, instead saying: “We need to get the bill through parliament first… but I am confident that once the bill is passed, we will be able to get this scheme up and running.”

Politics latest: Good news for Labour in new poll

It comes as the number of people who arrived in the UK on small boats in the Channel rose above 5,000 by the end of March for the first time.

The previous record high figure for January to March was 4,548 in 2022, with 3,793 arrivals in the first quarter of last year.

The government’s Rwanda scheme has faced huge opposition from campaigners and rival parties, and was ruled unlawful by the UK Supreme Court last November.

Channel crossings: More than 5,000 people have arrived in UK on small boats in 2024 as record start to year continues

This family’s terrifying journey across the Channel wasn’t their first choice – it was their last hope

Record number of migrants cross English Channel so far this year

As a result, the government altered the legislation to include a new treaty and to state in law that Rwanda is a safe country.

It has still faced fierce criticism though – especially in the House of Lords, which has applied multiple changes to the bill before sending it back to the Commons.

Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player

MPs are expected to vote on those amendments when they return to parliament next week, but the law could be stuck in so-called parliamentary “ping pong” between the two chambers for some time if peers decide to stand their ground.

Now we have entered spring, reporters asked the prime minister for a date when the first flight would take off.

Be the first to get Breaking News

Install the Sky News app for free

He said: “I just saw the president of Rwanda in Downing Street this week and they are absolutely committed to delivering on our partnership and I am confident that they have got all the preparation in place to do so.

“Look, I am committed to stopping the boats. We need to have a deterrent so that if people come here illegally they can’t stay, they will be removed. That’s why Rwanda is so important. That’s why I am determined to see it through.”

Keep up with all the latest news from the UK and around the world by following Sky News

But Mr Sunak added: “First of all we need to get it through parliament, where the Labour Party has been blocking it for a long time.

“Once it is up and running I am confident we will be able to operationalise the scheme [and] get people on flights because that’s how we set up a deterrent and ultimately end the unfairness of people jumping the queue, coming here illegally, putting pressure on local services and risking their own lives.

“None of that’s right, none of it’s fair and none of it’s compassionate either, to do nothing, and our plan is the right one.”

Related posts:

New Tory councillor says unwitting X-rated campaign video vital for election win 12 to 15-year-olds to get ‘final say’ over COVID jab if disagreement with parent occurs Footage reveals Number 10 staff joking about ‘Christmas party’ in Downing Street last year ‘If you lose trust, you lose the people’: Blackpool residents share anger after PM admits attending Downing Street party in lockdown Top civil servants asked to draw up plans for job cuts of up to 40% in each govt department UK move on gender reform bill likely to escalate tensions with Holyrood Chinese governor pulls out of London trip after protests by senior MPs Sunak to join world leaders in Munich for conference on international security India’s leader relishes the spotlight amid concerns G20 has become a talking shop Starmer is preparing for the TUC feast with union leaders – but one important person is on the ‘naughty step’ Who is Angela Rayner? The story behind the country’s possible next deputy PM Tory high command will be furious as ‘rebel with cause’ quits early