DON'T BELIEVE DOUBTERS! RWANDA MIGRANT DEAL IS ON

CLAIMS Rwanda is cooling on its deportation deal with Britain were quashed yesterday when senior officials insisted a new treaty would make it work.

- Michael Knowles & Martyn Brown

A spokeswoman the Rwandan for government vowed to fight "baseless" criticisms of its asylum system and lock  in a fresh migrants deal with the UK. Yolande Makolo, the regime spokeswoman, told the Daily Express her country is safe despite concerns from human rights groups.

She added: "Rwanda is a safe and welcoming country for asylum seekers and migrants, and the criticisms directed at our country are unwarranted. Nevertheless we are committed to providing those seeking safety and opportunity a home." Ms Makolo denied her government was considering pulling out of the agreement: "We're actively working with the UK Government to turn the [memorandum of understanding] into a treaty to reinforce the already existing guarantees on the concerns that have been raised.

"As baseless as the criticisms are, we will continue to address the bias and misinformation. We're busy working with the UK Government to finalise the treaty.

"As this is a partnership, it's in the interests of both parties to challenge those who seek to criticise this innovative approach, while offering no alternative of their own." The show of faith came as Rishi Sunak said that he was finalising legislation to push the asylum plan through, adding his "patience is worn thin" by delays.