With the hope that the legislation will be passed sooner rather than later, there has been a parliamentary standoff, as the MPs have rejected all changes to the Rwanda Bill.
Bill Back to the Chambers
To follow the sequence of events, the Bill must return to the upper chambers for further inspection and consideration.
Back to Africa to Deter Illegal Entry
In April 2022, the Boris Johnson Government announced the plan to send asylum seekers back to Rwanda in the hopes of deterring people from illegally arriving in the UK.
First Flights Were Scheduled
The first flights were scheduled for June 2022 but were delayed due to numerous legal challenges.
Bill Labelled Unlawful
The scheme has been a point of contention and has faced many setbacks since, such as the Supreme Court ruling that the Safety of Rwanda Bill was unlawful.
Ruling the Supreme Court
The legislation ordering the court to disregard critical sections of the Human Rights Acts needs to be approved by both houses of Parliament for the court to overrule the Supreme Court’s judgement.
The UK Is Part of the ECHR
The UK is a signatory to the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR), which forbids inhumane treatment and torture.
Rwanda Has Proven ‘Not Safe’
Rwanda’s human rights record could be better; thus, the proposed policy highlights that the refugees may be at risk.
UK in Question About Their Human Rights Standards
If the UK proceeds with the policy despite the concerns, many ethical and legal questions about its adherence to international human rights standards will arise.
Rwanda Needs to Be Classified as ‘Safe’
The first step was to get Rwanda marked as ‘safe,’ which was under discussion this week. If Rwanda is considered a safe place and the Bill passes, it means the government has enough support to proceed, and other changes by Parliament will be overturned.
Agreement on Wording Needed
The House of Commons and the House of Lords need to agree on the wording for it to be passed, and the back-and-forth between houses is what’s in session.
‘Ping-Pong’ Across Houses
There has been a lot of ‘parliamentary ping-pong’ with the Bill going from house to house and facing changes. Members of Parliament gave the latest change.
Putting Their Foot Down
The MPs opposed six items in the Bill, including an exemption that would have allowed people who had helped the UK’s military in other countries to stay in the UK.
Upcoming Debate Scheduled
The House of Commons will hold a debate on April 22, hoping this will be the last talk needed to pass the legislation.
No More Delays
The government doesn’t want any more delays, as the House of Lords recently rejected the legislation for the fourth time.
Labour to Abort Plan
Labour believes the scheme will not work and will eliminate it if they win the upcoming general election.
Prime Minister Backs the Bill 100%
Prime Minister Rishi Sunak is still backing the scheme with plans to green-light the first flights to Rwanda as early as spring.
All Talk and No Action Thus Far
There are reports that the UK has been discussing replicating the scheme with other countries; however, no one has been sent back to Africa under the scheme in the UK yet.
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The post No Winners: Parliamentary ‘Ping-Pong’ on Amended Rwanda Bill first appeared on Edge Media.
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