Sunak Says Deaths Show The Need For Rwanda Plan

THE deaths of five people including a child while attempting to cross the English Channel underlines the need for the deterrent of the Rwanda scheme, Rishi Sunak has said.

The tragedy off the coast of northern France came just hours after Parliament passed legislation aimed at putting the Rwanda asylum scheme into effect.

The Prime Minister said criminal gangs were exploiting the vulnerable and "packing more and more people into these unseaworthy dinghies".

At about 6am yesterday a dinghy carrying more than 100 people set off from Wimereux and got into difficulties.

Three men, a woman and a girl were killed, according to the French coastguard.

Another 49 people were rescued but 58 others refused to leave the boat and continued their journey towards the UK, the coastguard said in a statement, adding that several other boats later embarked on the crossing.