Girl, 7, dies in channel

Desperate father watches daughter drown

- ANDY LINES and DAVE BURKE

Charity and faith leaders blast Rwanda plan

A GIRL aged seven drowned in the Channel yesterday as the Government was warned the Rwanda deportation plan wouldn't stop the crossings.

The youngster, who is believed to have been partially sighted, was among the latest five people to die trying to reach the UK. A charity worker said her heartbroken father saw his daughter die.

The tragedy came hours after Rishi Sunak's Rwanda Bill finally passed Parliament amid criticism from charities and faith groups over the controversial scheme.

Mr Sunak said: "We want to prevent people making these very dangerous crossings.

"If you look at what's happening, criminal gangs are exploiting vulnerable people. They are packing more and more people into these unseaworthy dinghies. We have seen an enormous increase in the numbers per boat over the past few years.

"This is what tragically happens when they push people out to sea and that's why, for matters of e compassion more than anything E else, we must break this business model."

Witnesses in Dover saw more than 200 people arrive on four boats yesterday. SNP MP Alison Thewliss said: "If the risk of losing your life in the Channel is no deterrent, it is unlikely that the slim chance of being removed to Rwanda will dissuade people."