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- becky morton
- BBC political reporter
image source, Getty Images
The House of Lords has handed the government another defeat over the flagship Rwanda Bill.
Four proposed changes have so far been passed by industry peers, including provisions to ensure “due regard” to national and international law.
MPs will now have to vote on the bill again, delaying its passage until after Easter.
The bill aims to revive the government’s plan to send some asylum seekers to Rwanda.
The East African country has been declared safe after the Supreme Court ruled the government’s plan could lead to human rights abuses and deportation flights were halted.
The plan is at the heart of the Prime Minister’s ‘Stop the Boats’ pledge to stop people making the dangerous journey across the Channel.
Labor’s proposals on domestic and international law passed by 271 votes to 228.
In opposing the amendments, Home Secretary Sharp argued that there was nothing in the bill that was inconsistent with the UK’s international obligations.
Meanwhile, peers also supported the proposal put forward by cross-bench peer Lord Hope that Rwanda would only be considered a safe country if the treaty introducing new safeguards is fully implemented. .
The amendment passed by a vote of 285 to 230.
Other changes being considered by the House of Lords include Labour’s Lord Browne’s proposal that individuals who supported British troops overseas should be exempt from deportation to Rwanda, subject to further votes in the future. is scheduled to be held.
The bill will now have to be returned to the House of Commons in a process known as “ping-pong,” where it will be debated between both chambers until the final text can be agreed.
This is expected to happen after MPs return from Easter break on April 15, according to government officials.
Labour’s Home Office spokesperson Lord Corker said the party had no intention of blocking the bill outright.
But delays could threaten Downing Street’s ambitions to begin the first flights this spring.
No10 officials insist the target date is still achievable even if the bill is not passed until after Easter.
On Monday, MPs rejected 10 amendments to the bill proposed by MPs earlier this month, and further changes proposed in the House of Lords are likely to be rejected again.
Home Secretary Michael Tomlinson described the proposals put forward by peers as “disruptive amendments”.
Ahead of the Lords debate, Home Secretary James Cleverley urged his colleagues to allow the bill to pass.
He told the Daily Express: “As we have always said, the further this bill progresses, the more worried Labor will become about whether it will succeed, and the more likely they are to delay or sabotage the plan. , we can now expect a deliberate effort by Labor to sabotage it.” .
“We remain focused on making sure that doesn’t happen and we hope that their Lordships recognize that it is time to pass this bill so we can continue to stop boats and save lives.” I hope.”
Labor has said it will scrap the Rwanda plan if it wins power, even if the planes take off before the next general election.
However, when asked if individuals who had already been sent to the UK under the Labor government would be returned to the UK, a party spokesperson said there was no intention to do so, adding: “If the system is up and running then… “We have to accept the decisions already taken by the government,” he added. Had made. “
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