Overview

• Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has stated that there is no 'firm date' to stop migrant boat crossings, despite it being one of his five priorities for 2023.
• Sunak is confident that the UK government will be able to send asylum seekers to Rwanda, but did not reveal whether any airlines had agreed to participate, citing commercial confidentiality.
• Sunak's Rwanda bill, which is part of the government's plan to deter migrants from crossing the Channel in small boats, is due to return to the Commons in January.
• The cost of the deportation scheme to Rwanda has more than doubled to £290m while flights remain grounded.
• Sunak has pledged to clear the backlog of 'legacy' asylum cases - claims made before 28 June 2022 - by the end of 2023.