The House of Lords dealt a blow to the UK government’s plans to deport asylum seekers to Rwanda by voting to reinsert 10 rejected amendments to the Safety of Rwanda Bill. This decision has put Prime Minister Rishi Sunak in a race against time to start the deportation process before June.
The government’s goal in deporting migrants to Rwanda is to deter them from crossing the English Channel. The UK has already paid Rwanda ยฃ240 million as part of a relocation deal, with total costs estimated at ยฃ370 million. However, the Lords have criticized the bill, with some calling it “shoddy” and raising concerns about the safety of Rwanda.
Earlier in the week, MPs rejected amendments to the bill, describing them as “wrecking amendments.” Now, the bill must return to the Commons for further debate before it can become law in its original form. There is a debate over whether the deportation flights can begin before mid-year, with the opposition Labour party promising to scrap the plans if they come to power.
This decision by the House of Lords has sparked a fierce debate over the government’s plans to deport asylum seekers to Rwanda. With time running out for PM Rishi Sunak to implement the deportation process, all eyes are on the next steps in the legislative process. Stay tuned as the story continues to develop.
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