Rishi Sunak’s flagship Rwanda deportation bill faces delays after House of Lords defeats
Rishi Sunak’s controversial Rwanda deportation bill, which aims to block Strasbourg from halting the removal of asylum seekers to east Africa, is expected to be put on hold until at least next month after the House of Lords inflicted seven defeats on Wednesday.
The safety of the Rwanda (asylum and immigration) bill is now in question as it is not expected to return to the Commons until after the Easter break. This delay could make it increasingly difficult to fulfill the prime minister’s plan to see flights take off for Kigali by the spring.
The legislation is central to the Conservative government’s pledge to “stop the boats” and deter people from traveling across the Channel. However, the bill has faced significant opposition in the House of Lords, with several defeats on key amendments.
Labour peer Shami Chakrabarti criticized the bill, stating that the prime minister’s credibility has been further denuded by the defeats in the Lords. Peers voted on various amendments, including ensuring that the legislation has “due regard” for domestic and international law, and monitoring Rwanda’s safety.
The bill must now go through a process known as “ping pong” between the two parliamentary chambers until they can agree on the final wording. Despite the setbacks, the government remains determined to see the bill passed and deportations begin this spring.
Opposition parties have criticized the Rwanda scheme, with Labour’s Yvette Cooper calling it a “failing farce” that will only cover a small percentage of asylum arrivals. The Home Office has also faced backlash for offering to pay asylum seekers to move to Rwanda.
As the debate continues, the government is under pressure to push the bill through and implement its deportation plans. However, with delays and defeats in the Lords, the future of the Rwanda deportation bill remains uncertain.