Government Wins First Round in Rwanda’s Crunch Week Bill Battle
The Lords may attempt to change the bill for a third time on Tuesday after MPs remove their previous amendments, but it is likely that the bill will become law this week.
The government has moved closer to making the Rwanda bill into law this week as MPs removed the Lords’ amendments for the second time on Monday.
Ministers are hopeful that once the Safety of Rwanda (Asylum and Immigration) Bill becomes law, it will facilitate the deportation of illegal immigrants to Rwanda.
The bill is currently in a phase known as “ping-pong,” where it goes back and forth between the two houses of Parliament for final adjustments.
Even though the government faced two defeats in the House of Lords, where it lacks a majority, MPs have rejected the two sets of changes made by the Lords.
Now the bill is back to the Lords, who may choose to concede defeat and let the bill pass without further changes, or they may continue to make additional amendments that could be removed by MPs on Wednesday.
In theory, the Lords could insist on changes, compelling ministers to either give up on the bill or use Parliament Acts to pass it the following year without the Lords’ consent. However, it is expected that the Lords would not hinder the will of the elected House of Commons and would compromise after three rounds of ping-pong.
Related Stories
Monday’s debate resembled previous discussions.
Illegal Migration Minister Michael Tomlinson stated that the government “simply cannot accept amendments that create loopholes allowing for continued delays and legal challenges to removal.
He emphasized the moral duty to prevent illegal boat arrivals and protect borders by swiftly returning individuals to Rwanda or a safe third country.
Shadow Minister for Immigration, Stephen Kinnock, criticized the government’s handling of the Rwanda agreement over the past two years, calling it unworkable and costly.
He argued that the probability of being sent to Rwanda, which stands at 0.5 percent for 300 individuals, would not deter illegal immigrants.
Under the Illegal Migration Act 2023, individuals arriving illegally from a safe third country after March 7 of the previous year could have their asylum claims rejected and be eligible for removal to another safe third country.
Notably, Home Office civil servants informed the House of Commons Public Accounts Committee on Monday that around 33,000 illegal immigrants were present in the country as of Dec. 28, 2023.
Additionally, Home Office data revealed a record 6,265 illegal immigrants arrived via small boats this year, marking a notable increase compared to previous years.
Small boat arrivals have accounted for a substantial portion of irregular migration, with 80 percent detected in the past two years, although this proportion was slightly lower in the initial quarter of each year.
