RISHI SUNAK was racing to force his Rwanda deportation Bill through Parliament today as the stand-off between MPs and peers over the legislation intensified.

The parliamentary ping-pong came amid reports that the government is moving to cut similar deals with other countries for the removal of asylum-seekers.

Tory MPs voted down all amendments passed in the Lords, including those which would have exempted victims of slavery or people who had assisted British armed forces from deportation.

The Bill has now returned to the Lords, but even if the peers stand firm on their changes, the government is likely to force the law through its parliamentary stages by the end of the week.

No refugees have yet been sent to Rwanda, despite hundreds of millions of pounds being spent on the scheme. 

The Supreme Court has ruled the African country an unsafe destination, a decision the legislation aims to negate.

The government hopes that the deportation of vulnerable people will begin within weeks of the legislation’s passage, but further legal challenges by charities and others are inevitable.

Despite this expensive flop, The Times reports that deportation deals are being considered with other countries, including Armenia, Costa Rica and Ivory Coast.

A number of other African states, however, declined to play ball with Mr Sunak and refused to enter talks.

Labour opposes the Bill, but only on grounds of cost and practicality, rather than principle.

Shadow immigration minister Stephen Kinnock said the scheme is “fundamentally unworkable, unaffordable and unlawful.”