Rwanda Bill: What happens now when it returns to the Commons after defeat in the Lords?

Rishi Sunak’s flagship Rwanda bill returns to the House of Commons today, with the government preparing to reject all amendments put forward by critics in the Lords.

Colleagues have been thinking and debating controversial legislationaimed at clearing the way for asylum seekers who arrive in the UK by small boats and are deported to Rwanda.

The bill seeks to declare Rwanda a safe country to deport asylum seekers, following a Supreme Court ruling to the contrary, citing concerns that those sent to the African country would face a “real risk” of being returned to their countries of origin. persecution.

The government hopes passing the Rwanda Security Bill will address the Supreme Court’s concerns and allow flights to take off.

However, some MPs in the House of Lords have tried to soften the bill to make it more consistent with international law and make it easier to challenge it in court.

The bill returns to the House of Commons today After a series of losses last weekThe parliamentary “ping pong” process has begun.

Here, Sky News reports on the House of Lords amendments MPs will consider today and what might happen next.

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What amendments were proposed to the bill in the House of Lords?

There are a total of 10 amendments to the Rwanda Security Bill, which MPs will vote on today.

The first amendment, introduced by Labor MP Lord Cork, aims to ensure the bill is “fully consistent with the rule of law”.

The second and third House of Lords amendments, tabled by crossbench Lord Hope of Craighead, would omit the wording that Rwanda is a “safe country” until Signed a treaty with the country in December Has been fully implemented.

The treaty seeks to resolve issues raised by the Supreme Court in November and includes provisions that prevent asylum seekers who end up in Rwanda from being returned to their countries of origin.

The Third Amendment, also proposed by Lord Hope, would provide a mechanism by which Parliament would be informed of treaty developments.

Crossbench MP Lord Anderson of Ipswich also proposed two amendments. The Fourth Amendment would allow courts and tribunals to rebut claims that Rwanda is a safe country if there is “credible evidence,” while the Fifth Amendment removes the government’s attempts to prevent courts and tribunals from considering appeals based on Rwanda’s insecurity.

The sixth amendment, introduced by Labor MP Baroness Chakrabarty, seeks to restore the ability of policymakers to consider whether Rwanda is a safe state and the jurisdiction of domestic courts and tribunals to grant interim relief.

archbishop of canterbury and Tory big shot Ken Clarke are among them Having previously voted against the government Supports an amendment to allow the claim that Rwanda is a safe state to be challenged in court.

Baroness Lister, Baroness Bertset, introduced a seventh amendment which provides for courts to consider reviewing claims for the removal of children, while Lord Cork’s eighth amendment requires the government to set a timetable for deporting asylum seekers.

The ninth amendment, proposed by crossbench Baroness Butler-Sloss, would prevent asylum seekers from being deported until a decisive decision on deportation is made, as the impact of deportation has also been considered. The amendment also appears to identify and protect victims of modern slavery from being transferred to Rwanda without their consent.

Finally, Amendment 10 by Lord Browne of Leyton would exempt armed forces personnel or their dependents and families from being returned to Rwanda.

What happens next?

Today is the first round of so-called parliamentary “ping-pong” – where a bill is introduced from one side of the House of Commons to the House of Lords to shape the wording of the bill until the two houses reach an agreement.

Ministers are expected to overturn all 10 amendments at this stage, although Labor has said it will support all 10. However, there are signs that the government may be willing to compromise on the final amendments regarding armed forces personnel – but if it does do so, it is likely to happen at a later date.

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A vote could take place around 7pm after the amendments are considered, or the legislation could be passed directly.

The bill will be reintroduced to the House of Lords on Wednesday, where MPs will decide whether to give in or continue to debate the bill.

If they wish to extend the legislation – perhaps to ensure the Prime Minister does not fly to Rwanda before spring as previously promised – they could go ahead and send some amendments back to the House of Commons for consideration.