Join the View from Westminster email list to receive professional insights directly to your email inbox.
Receive our complimentary email, “View from Westminster”.
The proposed asylum law put forth by Rishi Sunak has passed its first major obstacle in the House of Lords, but may face significant challenges as the Archbishop of Canterbury cautions that it may have harmful consequences for the nation.
Justin Welby made a rare intervention into politics by speaking out in the Lords on Monday evening, against the legislation aimed at sending asylum seekers on one-way flights to the African country. The Church of England’s most senior cleric insisted that Britain “can do better than this bill” as he condemned the Sunak’s government’s “pick and choose” approach to international law.
During the lengthy debate in the upper chamber, the government’s Safety of Rwanda (Asylum and Immigration) Bill received a barrage of criticism. Many accused it of being immoral, repugnant, and an effort to “legitimize a falsehood.”
The Archbishop of Canterbury addressed the House of Lords.
Mr. Sunak has urged members of the House of Lords to consider the wishes of the public as he works to pass his proposal for Rwanda and begin deportation flights in the upcoming season.
Eleven Conservative party members who oppose the party’s right-wing views voted against the “feeble” law in the House of Commons. However, the law will face a greater challenge in the House of Lords, as numerous members have expressed concerns about the security of Rwanda.
Although the Bill was able to withstand a challenge from the Liberal Democrats on Monday, the unelected chamber is expected to propose several amendments, setting up a clash with the Conservative government and creating a prolonged back-and-forth between the House of Lords and the House of Commons during the “ping-pong” process. The motion to block the Bill was rejected by a majority vote of 122, with 206 against and 84 in favor.
Prior to the vote on the second reading, the Archbishop of Canterbury expressed to the House of Lords, “As a nation, we are capable of surpassing this bill.”
“The faith leader expressed that the government’s bill is pursuing positive goals but in an inappropriate manner, which could result in detrimental consequences for the nation.”
The Reverend Welby referred to Rwanda as a “remarkable nation,” stating that his concern is not with Rwanda or its citizens. The country has faced obstacles that are beyond the comprehension of this House.
However, the independent member of the House of Lords asserted that Mr Sunak’s legislation would transfer our duty to care for refugees and asylum seekers to other nations, even though there are many countries that are much less affluent than ours that are already providing assistance to much larger numbers of people.
He also contended that selectively applying international law weakens our position on the world stage and goes against the principle of universality.
Rishi Sunak is certain that his proposed legislation for Rwanda will aid him in fulfilling his promise to halt the influx of boats.
Rev Welby stated that the current situation is harmful not only for asylum seekers who require protection and safe and legal means of immigration, but also for the reputation of the country as well as its adherence to constitutional principles and the rule of law.
Lord German, a senior member of the Liberal Democrat party, advised his fellow peers to reject the Rwanda bill during its second reading. Despite this, Reverend Welby stated that he would not vote against the government during Monday evening’s session. As it is highly anticipated that the government will secure a victory in tonight’s vote, peers are planning to propose amendments to the bill in the next stage.
The Lords voted 214 to 171 in favor of delaying a treaty with Rwanda, marking the first disagreement on the bill last week. This move is an unprecedented one and is a part of the government’s plan.
The unelected upper house supported the request for parliament to withhold approval of the agreement until government officials can demonstrate that the nation is secure. However, unlike the elected lower house, which has the authority to postpone the ratification of a treaty, the House of Lords can only offer guidance.
Former Conservative cabinet member Kenneth Clarke stated that he is unable to endorse the Rwanda bill, expressing concern over its ability to override court decisions regarding the safety of Rwanda. He emphasized that this provision could have serious implications for the country’s constitution.
Lord Clarke addressed the members of the House of Lords regarding the dangers of transitioning towards an elective dictatorship in our nation. He emphasized the importance of having constitutional boundaries for all branches of government in a liberal democratic society like ours.
In a harshly critical speech, ex-Labour home secretary Lord David Blunkett stated that the Conservative proposal was solely focused on sending a message to extremist voters and vilifying the courts, the House of Lords, and the opposing party.
He also noted that Italian far-right leader Giorgia Meloni had a comparable proposal to expel refugees to African countries. “What type of country are we?” he questioned.
On Monday, the official spokesperson for Mr. Sunak stated that the bill is still the appropriate action to take in order to address human smugglers and discourage individuals seeking asylum from crossing the Channel.
The official from No 10 stated that it is fair to both taxpayers and those seeking legal entry to prioritize those who can afford to cross on small boats.
In the meantime, over 1,000 migrants have made unauthorized crossings of the Channel this year, with an additional 300 making the journey over the past weekend.
The asylum scheme comes with a £290m, bill but a series of legal challenges has meant no flights have taken off since it was first proposed in 2022, when Boris Johnson was in No 10.
The proposal suggests that individuals who travel across the Channel on small boats may be sent to Rwanda instead of being permitted to apply for asylum in the United Kingdom. This law, in conjunction with the treaty recently signed with Kigali, aims to ensure that the plan is legally sound.
Source: independent.co.uk
