Illegal Migration Bill Inches Closer to Law
The government has triumphed in the House of Lords, pushing the Illegal Migration Bill closer to becoming law. This key legislation supports Prime Minister Rishi Sunak’s promise to crack down on the surge of small boat Channel crossings.
Peers’ Amendments Thrown Out
In a late-night showdown, the final proposed amendments were voted down. Despite numerous attempts from opposition peers to soften the bill—such as setting limits on child detention times and improving protections for modern slavery victims—ministers held firm and defeated each change.
One notable amendment, demanding quarterly National Crime Agency reports on immigration crimes, failed by 201 votes to 166. Another, aimed at strengthening safeguards for UK victims of modern slavery, was rejected 205 to 193.
Church’s Concerns Nixed
The Archbishop of canterbury/" title="Canterbury" data-wpil-keyword-link="linked">Canterbury, Justin Welby, had called for a 10-year international strategy on refugees and human trafficking. However, after MPs shot down the proposal, Welby dropped his demand, leaving the Church’s stance weakened.
Government Battles Back to Protect Borders
Home Office minister Lord Murray of Blidworth argued the UK’s asylum system is buckling under the weight of 45,000+ dangerous Channel crossings last year. He warned taxpayers fork out a staggering £6 million daily for migrant accommodation. Lord Murray pressed Lords to back the will of the elected House, pushing the bill through as essential to dismantle people smuggling gangs’ “business model.”
The bill would legally oblige the government to detain and remove illegal entrants, with plans to send some to Rwanda or other “safe” countries. Although the Rwanda scheme was recently blocked by the Court of Appeal, ministers are fighting the ruling.
Shadow immigration minister Stephen Kinnock slammed the bill as “unworkable” and branded it an “exercise in performative cruelty.” He warned that Rwanda could only handle a tiny fraction of the migrants, making deportation threats pointless and ineffective as a deterrent.
