Boris Johnson and Priti Patel supported Jonathan Gullis’s proposal for a new bill, but it was ultimately rejected.
A Conservative backbencher failed in his bid to overturn international human rights judgments and restart the Rwanda deportation program.
Jonathan Gullis reportedly had the support of former prime minister Boris Johnson and former home secretary Priti Patel, but his proposed legislation was defeated by a vote of 188 to 69.
The idea to transfer refugees to Rwanda to process their asylum claims were revealed in April during the Johnson administration, with Ms. Patel at the helm of the strategy.
Despite the government’s payment of £140 million to Rwanda, no flights have yet taken off due to a series of court obstacles this summer.
The maiden flight in June was grounded at the eleventh hour due to a legal challenge being evaluated by the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR).
Mr. Gullis attempted to submit a measure that would have disregarded the Strasbourg Court and permitted the speedy resumption of flights.
Former cabinet ministers Jacob Rees-Mogg and Nadine Dorries were both thought to be in favor of the measure, but they did not vote today, and neither did Mr. Johnson.
Mr. Gullis stated that “parliament, not unaccountable foreign judges in Europe” should have the last say about the Rwanda plan.
“offensive and dangerous” legislation
Alison Thewliss of the SNP termed his Asylum Seekers (Removal to Safe Countries) Bill “offensive, filthy, and dangerous” as she attacked the immigration rhetoric of the Conservatives.
The representative for Glasgow Central cited the deaths of four migrants in the English Channel today and asserted that if Mr. Gullis had “any sympathy,” he would have withdrawn the legislation.
She declared before the Commons, “He should be ashamed of himself”
Nobody is unlawful, but this bill very well may be.
Labour’s Andy McDonald also criticized the bill, writing, “I’m glad we defeated Jonathan Gullis’ fascist bill, which would have permitted ministers to flout international law about their Rwanda plan.
“While we grieve the loss of those who perished last night in the English Channel, this is a little triumph in the fight for a more compassionate society.”
This morning, a migrant boat became stranded in the English Channel, prompting a search and rescue operation.
More than forty individuals have been rescued, but four deaths have been verified.
According to Refugee Action, the government’s “hostile” immigration policies are “intended to keep people out and not to keep people safe.”
Government “playing to the party’s right”
Sir Roger Gale, the Conservative member of parliament for North Thanet in Kent, told that his party was “playing to the right-wing gallery” with certain policies.
Mr. Sunak has vowed to crack down on immigration, and on Tuesday he introduced a slew of legislation designed to prevent migrants from crossing the English Channel.
He stated that this would involve resuming the Rwanda deportations, which has been highly criticized by opposition parties, charitable organizations, and the Archbishop of Canterbury.
A decision is imminent over the legality of the government’s plan to deploy migrants to the east African nation.
The Home Office says that the plan will help undermine the economic model of people smugglers who facilitate what they call unlawful immigration, but critics have raised concerns about human rights abuses in Rwanda and say there is no proof that the scheme will be effective.
This year, more than 40,000 migrants have crossed the English Channel, a significant rise from 2021, when fewer than 29,000 did so.
