Archbishop of Canterbury says Rwanda plan ‘main nation down a harmful path’
The Archbishop of Canterbury has accused the Government of “leading the nation down a damaging path” with its newest Rwanda Bill.
Speaking within the House of Lords, the chief of the Church of England mentioned: “We can as a nation do better than this Bill.” Archbishop Justin Welby accused ministers of “outsourcing our legal and moral responsibilities” – and hinted he could vote in opposition to it within the coming weeks.
The Archbishop gave a scathing verdict on Rishi Sunak’s Safety of Rwanda Bill, which might see Parliament declare the African nation a secure place to ship asylum seekers to. He warned that the Government’s plan “undermines our international standing”.
The Archbishop mentioned: “With this Bill, the Government is continuing to seek good objectives in the wrong way, leading the nation down a damaging path. It is damaging for asylum seekers in need of protection and safe and legal routes. It is damaging for this country’s reputation.” He added that the Bill – which might see Parliament declare Rwanda is a secure nation to ship asylum seekers to – additionally goes in opposition to the “rule of law”.
In a scathing evaluation, the Archbishop mentioned: “Rwanda is a country I know well. This is a wonderful country. And my complaint is not with Rwanda, nor with its people. It has overcome challenges that this as cannot begin to imagine.
“This Bill continues to outsource our authorized and ethical tasks for refugees and asylum seekers, when different international locations far poorer are already supporting multitudes greater than we are actually.”
Calling for the Government to rethink its strategy, he said: “The UK ought to lead internationally because it has in prior to now, not stand aside.” And he added: “I’ll merely say {that a} decide and select method to worldwide legislation undermines our world standing and offends in opposition to the precept of universality that’s their more and more threatened basis.”
The Government is braced for a bruising battle with the Lords over its Rwanda plan, which critics dismiss as a gimmick and experts warn breaches international law. In November the Supreme Court branded it unlawful, prompting ministers to agree a new treaty with the country and push through legislation declaring it safe.
After a bitter clash in the Commons, which saw 11 Tory MPs rebel, Rishi Sunak urged friends in opposition to blocking “the need of the folks” by opposing the Bill. The PM’s official spokesman said: “This Bill is a key a part of how we cease violent prison gangs concentrating on susceptible people who has led to too many deaths within the English Channel.
“That is the right thing to do, it is also the fair thing to do both for taxpayers and for those individuals seeking to come here through safe and legal routes who see their place jumped by those who can afford to make crossings on small boats. We’ve worked very carefully both on the Bill and the treaty in coordination with the Rwanda government and we continue to believe that this bill is the right way forward to get the flights off the ground and to stop the boats.”
