A former Tory chairman who served beneath Margaret Thatcher says he is ashamed of the Government’s Rwanda plan.
Lord Deben, who led the celebration between 1983 and 1987 and in addition served in John Major’s cupboard, mentioned he was horrified that trendy slavery victims may very well be pressured onto flights. Peers have been additionally advised it’s “shameful” that heroes who helped the UK in Afghanistan may very well be deported in a bruising day for the Government.
Lord Deben, who was a Tory MP for over 30 years as John Gummer, advised the House of Lords: “I must say, I am a bit tired of having to remind this Government about what it means to be a conservative.” He went on: “We have a reputation in the world because of our Modern Slavery Act. It was a brave and important thing to do.
“It was welcomed throughout the entire home. I’m proud that it was a Conservative authorities that did this. I’m not proud that there’s a Conservative authorities undermining that after we know that greater than three quarters of those that enchantment in these circumstances are discovered to be proper of their enchantment.”
He is the latest Tory grandee who served under Mrs Thatcher to hit out at Rishi Sunak’s controversial Safety of Rwanda Bill. On Monday Lord Tugendhat – uncle of Home Office minister Tom Tugendhat – accused ministers of performing like “despots”. He added that Mrs Thatcher wouldn’t have supported it as she believed in the rule of law.
Mr Sunak’s Bill seeks to override a Supreme Court ruling that sending asylum seekers to Rwanda is unlawful. If passed, the Bill will see MPs declare that it is – although he faces a wave of opposition in the House of Lords.
In a scathing broadside Labour peer Lord Browne gave examples of Afghans who had worked alongside British forces who fled the Taliban and arrived in small boats. The Government has been urged to exempt soldiers who fight for the UK from being sent to Rwanda.
Lord Stirrup, former chief of the defence staff said: “ How reliable does anyone suppose we can be seen if we now have taken those that have already served so faithfully in such troublesome circumstances and despatched them to Rwanda?”
He continued: “So for individuals who aren’t swayed by a way of ethical obligation, I ask you to contemplate the long run effectiveness and security of the women and men of our armed forces who’re despatched out to do such troublesome and harmful issues in these components of the world.”