Ministers accused of trying to bribe voters as first migrants bound for Rwanda detained [Video]

Ministers have been accused of trying to “bribe” voters after they released pictures of the first asylum seekers being rounded up for deportation to Rwanda – and announced one other had agreed to voluntarily relocate for £3,000 – a day before the local elections.

Downing Street insisted the raids were an important step towards getting Rishi Sunak’s controversial policy airborne, and denied the operation was a cynical attempt to woo voters ahead of poll results that could decide the prime minister’s future.

His press secretary said: “For our part there really is not a day to lose when people are dying in the channel.”

Officers began detaining potential deportees on Monday at their homes or as they came to report at immigration centres – even though the first flights are not due to depart for at least another nine weeks. Around 800 officers are deployed on what has been dubbed Operation …