Downing Street has warned that peers will show a lack of ‘compassion’ if they do not pass the Rwanda Bill unamended. At this morning’s lobby briefing, the Prime Minister’s spokesman said: ‘Not acting is not an option and it certainly wouldn’t be a compassionate route.’

The government rejected all the amendments made by peers to the Bill last night in the first round of ‘ping pong’ between the two chambers, and the legislation will now go back to the Upper House for further consideration on Wednesday.