Fury as Lords plot to block Rishi Sunak’s emergency law on Rwanda
Rishi Sunak reveals government working on ‘new treaty with Rwanda’
Unelected peers have vowed to block Rishi Sunak’s emergency law deeming Rwanda a safe country.
The Prime Minister announced the emergency legislation as part of his fightback after the Supreme Court ruled the Rwanda policy unlawful.
But Lords have vowed to vote down the emergency law aimed at getting flights off the tarmac as part of the flagship policy to send Channel migrants on a one-way ticket to the African country.
Lord Carlile of Berriew said: “I am shocked to hear the Government seems to be suggesting it will seek to overcome the Supreme Court decision by introducing a bill which simply declares Rwanda a safe country.
“I have absolutely no doubt the House of Lords would put up pretty strong cross-party opposition to the bill that has been mooted.
“The Government cannot force it through under the Parliament Act because it’s not that kind of bill – to be able to be forced through it has to be a manifesto bill.
“There are enough members of the House of Lords willing to object to this to mean the Government would be most unlikely to get it through.”
But Tory MPs warned peers against blocking the emergency legislation.
Former Cabinet minister Sir Jacob Rees-Mogg told the Daily Mail: “If the unelected parts of the constitution thwart the will of the British people, that creates a problem.
“Dealing with migration was a manifesto commitment which the Lords must remember. Their role is to scrutinise legislation, not to oppose fundamental policy.”
Senior Conservative MP Sir Simon Clarke added: “Clearly it’s for members of the unelected upper house to choose whether they wish to stand in the way of elected politicians trying to address what is an unacceptable situation. But I think there will be fury if they block this.
“Is it unconstitutional for us to say we think Rwanda is safe? At some point we have to ask who governs this country, elected politicians or judges.”
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