Rishi Sunak’s flagship Rwanda bill is finally set to become law after months of wrangling ended in a parliamentary showdown shortly before midnight.

It designates Rwanda a safe country and is a key part of the government’s plans to send some asylum seekers there.

The bill has been fiercely criticised by opposition parties but the Lords ended their objections late on Monday.

Mr Sunak has said flights to Rwanda will take off within 10 to 12 weeks, missing his original spring target. But departures could still be held up in the courts or delays in securing the planes asylum seekers would travel on.