Richard Madeley halts Good Morning Britain for 'breaking news' announcement

Good Morning Britain presenters Richard Madeley and Susanna Reid confirmed five people had died while crossing The Channel, as reported by the French media.

Richard shared midway through Tuesday's instalment of the show: "The French media is currently reporting that five, maybe up to seven migrants, have died trying to cross The Channel this morning.

"There's a police operation currently underway south of Calais. So between five and seven migrants have died attempting to cross The Channel."

Susanna added: "This comes as the Prime Minister says nothing is going to get in his way of flights deporting asylum seekers to Rwanda off the ground."

The pair were then joined by the Illegal Migrant Minister Michael Tomlinson to discuss the Rwanda Bill live from Westminister.

The Conservative MP replied: "It is absolutely chilling to hear that. We have had fatalities now in The Channel for nine consecutive months.

"It is an absolute tragedy to hear that news, I literally heard it 30 seconds ago on air now. But that is why I am so determined, and the Prime Minister is so determined, to stop the boats.

"We cannot see these evil criminal gangs, who don't care whether you live or die, smuggling people onto these boats, taking their money. That's all they care about."

Richard later confirmed: "It's been confirmed that the number is five, that five people have lost their lives in the Channel this morning."

The Safety of Rwanda (Asylum and Immigration Bill) has successfully passed through Parliament after peers ended their resistance to the scheme.

Prime Minister is hopeful that the Rwanda scheme will act as a deterrent for migrants attempting to cross the English Channel, despite a small boat being spotted leaving the Calais shoreline with French police observing on Tuesday morning.

Plans for the inaugural flights to Rwanda are set to commence within days, identifying and potentially detaining asylum seekers who could be relocated.

Charter planes are anticipated to depart for Rwanda in 10-12 weeks, with Mr Sunak promising "multiple flights a month", although ministers have admitted that initial numbers sent to Kigali would be minimal.

The Prime Minister stated: "The passing of this landmark legislation is not just a step forward but a fundamental change in the global equation on migration. We introduced the Rwanda Bill to deter vulnerable migrants from making perilous crossings and break the business model of the criminal gangs who exploit them."

"The passing of this legislation will allow us to do that and make it very clear that if you come here illegally, you will not be able to stay. Our focus is to now get flights off the ground, and I am clear that nothing will stand in our way of doing that and saving lives."

Good Morning Britain airs on weekdays from 6am on ITV and ITVX.