Peers in the House of Lords have inflicted their first defeat on Rishi Sunak’s Safety of Rwanda (Asylum and Immigration) Bill by backing an amendment.

Amendment Two, which was supported by 274 peers to 172, states: "This amendment seeks to ensure that the eventual Act is fully compliant with the rule of law while maintaining full compliance with international and domestic law."

The vote is likely to start a back and forth process between the Commons and the Lords over the bill.

However, it is unlikely the Lords will be able to end the plan altogether as this back and forth can only happen three times before the Government has a chance to invoke the Parliament Act and override the Upper House.

The bill has been debated in the House of Lords

A No 10 spokesperson told reporters: "The PM is clear that the Rwanda Bill as drafted is the right bill. That is the bill that will allow us to get flights off to Rwanda.

"It’s the toughest piece of illegal migration legislation ever introduced. And it closes down all but the narrowest possible grounds for appeals, giving us confidence that we can deliver flights off the ground.

"And we look forward to the Lords looking at the bill carefully, and working with the Government to ensure that we can protect innocent lives from perilous journeys across the channel."