British government intends to send refugees to Rwanda, who arrive in their small boats across the Channel and a law is being debated in the House of Lords to legalize it. The Archbishop of Canterbury, the Most Reverend Justin Welby, said as a Lord that the Migrant Bill was “morally unacceptable and politically unworkable”.
The Anglican church’s top authority said the bill “does not recognize the global forces creating refugees”.
In his first speech to a House of Lords debate on the illegal immigration bill, Welby said the bill “risks seriously damage the interests and reputation of the United Kingdom at home and abroad” because it betrays international obligations under the Refugee Convention, which Britain helped found in 1951.
He acknowledged that immigration reforms were needed to “destroy the evil tribe of smugglers” who facilitate small boat crossings. However, he said, “The tragedy is that without many changes, this isn’t that bill.”
The Archbishop of Canterbury outlined the bill as “isolated” and “isolationist”.
Welby said the bill failed to take a “long-term and strategic view” of global migration challenges and “undermines international cooperation, rather than seize the opportunity for the UK to show leadership as we have done in 1951”.
morally unacceptable
The archbishop cited the forecasts of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, which estimates it on its own will create at least 800 million more refugees annually by 2050. He also referred to warnings from the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees that the bill could lead to the collapse of the system that protects refugees if other countries emulate the UK.
He said the government’s plans were a “one-off” bill, which attempted to tackle the problem of illegal immigration into the UK, without acknowledging the global forces creating refugees.
“He’s isolationist, it is morally unacceptable it is politically impracticable to let the poorest countries face the crisis alone and cut our international aid”, said the archbishop in his speech.
Downing Street has responded to the archbishop’s criticisms.
The premier’s spokesman said so it was not right to allow criminal gangs They will take advantage of people.
Downing Street insisted its illegal migration bill was “compassionate and fair”, following criticism from the Archbishop of Canterbury.
The prime minister’s spokesman, Rishi Sunak, said it was obviously right that the Lords could look into the bill. But what the government would continue to defend it vigorously.
“We believe this is a matter of fairness and it is not fair to allow criminal gangs to take advantage of people,” the spokesman added.
Asked to respond to Welby’s description as ‘morally unacceptable’, Rishi Sunak’s spokesman said: ‘The prime minister does not think it is compassionate or right to allow people who jump the line on some of the most vulnerable, seeking to come here safely and legal routes. We think it’s the most compassionate and right thing to do.”
Downing St said it would not set a date on when Sunak intended to comply his promise to “stop the ships”due to uncertainty over when the illegal immigration bill will become law.
The Archbishop of Canterbury crowned Charles III as King on Saturday. Both oppose the government’s policy of sending immigrants to Rwanda and the king told then Prime Minister Boris Johnson the plan was “appalling”.
Rwanda is an African autocracy, after a terrible genocide, which has suppressed political dissent with surveillance, intimidation, torture of dissidents, according to Freedom House, the US non-governmental organization.
Source: Clarin
Mary Ortiz is a seasoned journalist with a passion for world events. As a writer for News Rebeat, she brings a fresh perspective to the latest global happenings and provides in-depth coverage that offers a deeper understanding of the world around us.