British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak narrowly defeated a rebellion by his own Conservative Party lawmakers on Wednesday over his plan to send some asylum seekers to Rwanda, a policy that has sparked criticism from human rights groups and opposition parties.
Sunak faced down the revolt by offering minor concessions to those who wanted him to toughen up a new bill that aimed to deter migrants from crossing the English Channel in small boats by relocating them to the African nation for processing.
The bill passed its final vote in the House of Commons by 314 to 297, a majority of 17. However, 11 Conservative MPs defied Sunak and voted against the legislation, while 48 abstained or did not vote, indicating the depth of discontent within his party.
The prime minister said the bill was a “major step” in his plan to “stop the boats” and break the business model of “vile people smugglers”. He also said the policy would save lives and help Rwanda’s economic development.
But critics say the plan is inhumane, ineffective and unlawful. They argue that Rwanda is not a safe country for refugees and that the scheme could violate international law by exposing asylum seekers to the risk of being returned to their home countries, where they could face persecution.
The United Nations Refugee Agency (UNHCR) has warned that the plan could undermine the global asylum system and create a “race to the bottom” among countries. It has also questioned the legality and feasibility of the deal, which has not been made public.
The UK government has paid Rwanda £240 million ($304 million) so far, but no asylum seekers have been sent there yet. The first flight was scheduled for June 2022 but was halted by a legal challenge. The case is still pending in the UK courts.
The bill will now go to the House of Lords, the upper chamber of parliament, where it is likely to face further scrutiny and possible amendments. The Lords can delay but not block legislation.
Sunak, who replaced Liz Truss as prime minister in 2022, has seen his popularity and authority decline amid rising inflation, a sluggish economy, and a series of scandals. He is hoping to revive his fortunes ahead of a general election due later this year.
But his Rwanda plan has divided his party and alienated some voters, who see it as a harsh and desperate measure. A recent poll by YouGov showed that 49% of Britons opposed the plan, while 36% supported it.
The opposition Labour Party, which has a narrow lead over the Conservatives in most polls, has denounced the plan as a “cruel and costly failure”. Labor leader Keir Starmer said Sunak should focus on working with other European countries to find a humane and effective solution to the migrant crisis.
The UK received 25,770 asylum applications in 2022, down 37% from the previous year, according to official data. Most applicants came from Iran, Iraq, Albania, Eritrea and Sudan. Only 42% of the applications were granted.
Meanwhile, the number of people crossing the Channel in small boats reached a record high of 28,600 in 2022, more than triple the number in 2021. Most of them were picked up by the UK coastguard and brought to Britain, where they can claim asylum.
The UK government has blamed France for not doing enough to stop the crossings and has threatened to withhold £54 million ($68 million) in funding that it promised to help boost French border security. France has accused the UK of reneging on its commitments and failing to cooperate.
Despite the tensions, the two countries agreed on Tuesday to resume talks on the issue and to explore the possibility of setting up joint processing centers for asylum seekers in France or other countries.
The UK is also in talks with other countries, such as Albania and Turkey, to explore similar deals to the one with Rwanda. However, no agreements have been reached so far.
Some experts and activists have urged the UK to adopt a more compassionate and pragmatic approach to the migrant issue, such as expanding legal pathways for refugees, improving the asylum system, and investing in the root causes of migration.
They say that sending asylum seekers to Rwanda or other countries will not deter them from fleeing violence, poverty, and persecution, and will only expose them to more suffering and uncertainty.
Source: Reuters
