Doubt over first UK deportation flight to Rwanda as European court of human rights intervenes – UK politics live

The final remaining asylum seekers are understood to have been taken off the flight following a series of late legal interventions, ITV is reporting.

Updated at 17.56 EDT

There remains confusion over the number of asylum seekers currently on board the flight from Wiltshire to Rwanda which is taking off shortly.

The Care4Calais charity has tweeted that there is only one asylum seeker now on the flight:

There are reports that there are only three asylum seekers onboard the plane.

Updated at 16.49 EDT

The first plane deporting asylum seekers to Rwanda is scheduled to take off shortly.The number of asylum seekers on board is unknown after a series of late legal interventions.

Updated at 16.54 EDT

Away from the scheduled flight to Rwanda, safeguards have been urged in parliament to prevent the UK Infrastructure Bank becoming a “plaything” of the Treasury.

Concerns have been raised at Westminster over proposals that would allow the exchequer to change the body’s activities set down in legislation, so-called Henry VIII powers.

Provisions would also allow the Treasury to amend what is defined by infrastructure.

A number of peers have called for these measures to be stripped out of the UK Infrastructure Bank Bill, amid worries over the operational independence of the institution from central government.

The House of Lords has been scrutinising the legislation, which will put the bank, currently operating on an interim basis following Brexit, on a legal footing.

Criticising the proposed powers for the Treasury in the bill, Liberal Democrat peer Lord Sharkey said: “They attempt to give the executive power to make policy before they have decided what that policy is.”

Updated at 16.31 EDT

Two asylum seekers due to be on a flight to Rwanda tonight have had their deportation from the UK postponed following last-ditch legal appeals, Sky News reports.The European court of human rights has granted an urgent interim measure blocking the removal of one Iraqi detainee who was due to be deported. The court indicated to the UK government that the applicant should not be removed to Rwanda until three weeks after the delivery of the final domestic decision in his ongoing judicial review proceedings. Another Iraqi detainee will also not be on the plane following an injunction from the upper tribunal preventing his departure. It is believed that the government may try to counter the appeals before the plane departs at around 9.30pm BST.

Updated at 15.34 EDT

The Rwandan government has hit back at “insulting” criticism of plans to relocate migrants from the UK.

Yolande Makolo, a spokesperson for the east African nation’s administration, said opponents were “missing the bigger picture” about efforts being made to improve the standard of living in the country and offer better opportunities so they do not lose their young people to “Europe”, as well as provide a safe haven for refugees.

Speaking to reporters in Kigali as the first deportation flight prepared to leave Britain, Makolo said: “There’s a point that we want to get across as Africans, that Africa should not be looked at as a place that creates problems and creates migrants and creates refugees.

“Of course we have conflict, but we also have pockets of safety and growth and opportunities, like in Rwanda as well.”

Updated at 15.29 EDT

Activists block a road leading away from the Colnbrook immigration removal centre near London Heathrow as they protest against the government’s plans to deport asylum seekers to Rwanda. Photograph: Henry Nicholls/Reuters

Updated at 15.11 EDT