The UK House of Lords has dealt another blow to the government’s Rwanda bill, passing seven proposed changes, including a provision ensuring “due regard” for domestic and international law. The changes will be sent to the House of Commons for a vote, delaying the passage of the bill until after Easter. The legislation aims to send asylum seekers to Rwanda, declaring the country safe after the Supreme Court halted deportation flights amid concerns the plan could lead to human rights breaches.
Labour’s proposals on domestic and international law were passed by a margin of 271 to 228 votes. Home Office Minister Lord Sharpe insisted there was no conflict between the proposed bill and the UK’s international obligations. Peers also supported a proposal by crossbench peer Lord Hope that Rwanda is only deemed a safe country once treaties bringing in new safeguards have been fully implemented. The amendment passed by 285 to 230 votes.
A Labour amendment to exempt individuals that have supported the UK armed forces overseas from deportation to Rwanda was passed by 248 to 209 votes. The bill will now return to the House of Commons for further debate and votes, potentially derailing Downing Street’s ambition of getting the first flights off the ground this spring. No 10 officials insisted that their target date could still be met, even if the legislation is not passed until after Easter.
Home Secretary James Cleverly urged peers to allow the bill to pass, adding that the more the bill progresses, the more concerned Labour get that the proposed legislation will work. A Labour party spokesman said that they would scrap the Rwanda scheme if they win power, even if flights take off before the next general election. However, asked if any individuals already sent to the country would be returned to the UK under a Labour government, the spokesman said they would not, adding that they would have to accept the decisions the government had already made
Read the full article from The BBC here: Read More