The British House of Commons has approved the migration law for deportations to Rwanda. In doing so, the MPs have strengthened Prime Minister Sunak’s back. The plans are also highly controversial within the conservative governing party.
In the dispute over a new migration law, British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak escaped a historic defeat in Parliament. In the second reading, the majority of MPs voted in favor of a hastily introduced government bill that is intended to save the asylum pact with Rwanda that was declared unlawful by the highest court.
Controversial plans – even within the Governing party
There had previously been great doubts as to whether Sunak could get the required majority behind him. Both the right and moderate wings of his conservative party had major reservations about the proposed law. However, at the last minute, the government was able to convince ultra-conservative MPs not to vote against the draft by offering the prospect of concessions. Ultimately, 313 MPs voted for the bill and 269 voted against it.
Otherwise, according to reports, it would have been the first time since 1986 that a bill had failed in its second reading – Sunak might have faced political extinction. However, the dispute is unlikely to be settled with the vote won.
Rwanda should be declared a safe third country
In order to deter migrants, London wants to send irregular arrivals to Rwanda in the future without examining their asylum applications and regardless of their origin. Instead, they should seek protection there – there are no plans to return to Great Britain. However, the British Supreme Court had raised concerns about the Rwandan asylum process and declared the plan unlawful in mid-November. The British government responded to this with the draft law published around a week ago.
The new text defines Rwanda as a safe third country and also prevents the deportation of migrants from the East African country to countries of origin where they may be at risk of persecution. It also proposes not to apply parts of British human rights law to deportations in order to restrict legal recourse for migrants.
Critics, including from his own party, accused him of overriding the principles of the rule of law. For others, the push didn’t go far enough. Hardliners are even calling for the withdrawal from the European Convention on Human Rights so that those affected can no longer turn to the European Court of Human Rights. Sunak has so far rejected this.
Sunak wants to end the irregular entry of migrants
Several arch-conservative groups within the Tory group announced shortly before the vote that they would abstain. However, they threatened to fail the bill’s third reading in the new year.
Sunak, whose Tory Party is trailing the opposition Labor Party in polls, has made ending the irregular entry of migrants in small boats across the English Channel a central focus of his government. In 2022 alone, around 45,000 people came to Great Britain this way. So far this year the number is significantly lower. Nevertheless, the promise is not considered fulfilled.
So far, 240 million pounds have already flowed to Rwanda, and a further 50 million are to be paid next year – but so far not a single migrant has been deported there.