RISHI Sunak has been reported for a "clear breach of the ministerial code" after taking a bet on the Rwanda deportation scheme.

The Prime Minister has sparked furious backlash after betting TalkTV host Piers Morgan £1000 that the UK would deport people to Rwanda before the General Election.

It has seen Sunak accused of being “out of touch” and of treating politics as “just a game”.

The SNP have reported the bet to Laurie Magnus, the independent adviser on ministers' interests, and Simon Case, the head of the civil service, calling it a "clear" breach of the rules. 

Despite the ructions caused by the policy – which has so far cost the UK Government £240 million – no asylum seekers have been sent to Rwanda.

It is a key plank of Sunak’s plan to “stop the boats” but a number of senior Tories have resigned from the Government, complaining the legislation is not tough enough.

Challenging Sunak on the troubled policy during an interview on TalkTV, Morgan challenged the Prime Minister to a bet.

After shaking hands with Morgan on the terms of the Rwanda bet, Sunak said: “I want to get the people on the plane. I am working incredibly hard to get the people on the planes.”

Kirsty Blackman, the SNP's Cabinet Office spokesperson, has demanded an official investigation into the bet, arguing it was against the ministerial code. 

The code states: "Ministers must ensure that no conflict arises, or could reasonably be perceived to arise, between their public duties and their private interests, financial or otherwise."

Blackman said: "Placing a bet on the lives of vulnerable refugees fleeing war and persecution is grotesque, callous and downright cruel – and shows just how out of touch Westminster is with the values of people in Scotland.

"It's particularly shameful that Rishi Sunak, one of the richest men in the UK, thinks it's appropriate to accept a £1000 wager – and will remind ordinary working families that near-billionaire Sunak doesn't have a clue what life is like for the rest of us in a cost of living crisis.

"It also appears to be a clear breach of the ministerial code and the high standards that people should expect of those in public life – not least the most powerful person in Westminster.”

First Minister Humza Yousaf took to social media to express his disgust at the bet.

He said: “The PM is quite literally gambling on people's lives. This Tory UK Government always finds a way of degrading itself even further.

“We should boot every Tory MP out of office. The SNP is second place in every Tory-held seat in Scotland. Vote SNP to ensure Scotland is Tory-free.”

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Stephen Flynn, the SNP's leader in Westminster, added: "The lives of some of the most vulnerable people on the planet reduced to a crude bet. It’s just a game to these people. Depraved."

Labour MP Jonathan Ashworth, the shadow paymaster general, said: “Not a lot of people facing rising mortgages, bills and food prices are casually dropping £1000 bets.

“It just shows that Rishi Sunak is totally out of touch with working people.”

Scottish Green co-leader Patrick Harvie also condemned the bet, writing: "I'm not sure I've ever been so disgusted by British politics."

And SNP home affairs spokesperson Alison Thewliss called the Prime Minister “utterly disgusting”, adding: “This is about real people and their lives, it’s not some game.”

Sunak is trying to revive the unlawful policy by passing legislation deeming Rwanda a safe country and ratifying a new treaty with Kigali.

The Rwanda Bill is currently making its way through the House of Lords, filled with peers who are hostile to the scheme.