MPs and the House of Lords are at a standoff over the government’s Rwanda deportation bill. Peers have demanded changes to the bill, including an amendment that blocks sending asylum seekers to Rwanda who have assisted the UK military. However, MPs have overturned those changes made by the Lords on Monday. Despite expected approval on Wednesday, another vote is now scheduled for Monday. The bill aims to send asylum seekers to the east African nation but has been plagued by delays.
Labour is still urging a ban on sending people who aided the UK military to Rwanda, as peers backed the motion by 247 votes to 195. Lord Browne of Ladyton commented, “Now is the time to give these people the sanctuary they deserve”. He is angry about the government U-turn on an earlier assurance given to him concerning the amendment. Another amendment passed by the Lords states that no flights should take off without Rwanda guaranteeing certain protections. This is viewed as a necessary measure before treatment of the nation as safe.
Home Secretary James Cleverly has blamed Labour for the bill’s setbacks, accusing the party of acting to delay the Rwanda scheme as they do not have an alternative deterrent or plan to tackle illegal migration. Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has made the Rwanda scheme integral to his plan of preventing Channel crossings made in small boats. First introduced two years ago under Boris Johnson, the programme has struggled with delays and disputes.
The bill is an attempt to prevent legal challenges blocking deportations and states that Rwanda is safe in UK law, as well as restricts courts’ ability to block flights on human rights grounds. Critics view the programme as a risk to individuals and independence of the courts. However, ministers remain keen to launch the scheme before upcoming elections
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