Asylum seekers to be sent to Rwanda

BORIS Johnson has put the Navy in command of the English Channel, as he defended a multimillion-pound scheme to a send some asylum seekers who make the crossing in small boats to Rwanda.

The Prime Minister conceded yesterday that he expects plans to detain and fly migrants more than 4,000 miles on chartered planes to the East African country to be challenged in the courts.

But after widespread criticism from opposition MPs and refugee charities he denied the expected removal of thousands of people in the coming years at the expense of the taxpayer is "draconian and lacking in compassion”.

Mr Johnson deflected repeated questions about the fine he has received for breaching his own coronavirus laws as he set out his migration plans in a speech in Kent.

He said the Royal Navy would immediately take over “operational command" from Border Force in the Channel to ensure "no boat makes it to the UK undetected".