2023-12-12 21:38:01
Rishi Sunak has surpassed his first big trial by fire in the eternal battle of the British Government to implement the deportations of asylum seekers to Rwanda. The House of Commons approved this Tuesday, in a first vote, the bill that aims to prevent the courts from blocking deportations to the African country again, with a result of 313 votes in favor and 269 against. A difference of 44 votes that was not clear until late in the afternoon and that has finally come forward thanks to the support ‘in extremis’ of some deputies from the hardest wing of the Conservative Party, who demand stronger measures to guarantee deportations but who have chosen to temporarily bury the hatchet, waiting for the processing of the law in Parliament.
A few minutes before the vote, the representatives of the calls “five families” – the five groups of deputies representing the most radical sector of the party – have announced their abstention to facilitate the continuity of the norm. “We will present amendments in the next phase that, if accepted, will substantially improve the bill and They will eliminate some of your weak points“he pointed out Mark Francois, the leader of the European Research Group (ERG), one of the most belligerent groups with immigrants. Despite the slight respite, representatives of the five families have warned that They will not allow the approval of the law in the future in case there are no modifications. “If the bill remains amended in this way, we agree to reserve the right to vote against it,” Francois stressed.
Defense of the law
Both Sunak and the Home Secretary, James Cleverlythey have dedicated the entire day to defending their plan before their own people and offer guarantees that the courts will not place new obstacles to the execution of deportations. Cleverly has insisted that the signing of the new international treaty with Rwanda last week, as well as the bill debated this Tuesday, confirm that the African country is a safe destination for refugees and give the Government free rein to implement its plans. The approval of both texts will prevent, according to the Executive, the repetition of blockades such as that of the Supreme Court, which stopped deportations due to the risk that the Rwandan authorities return legitimate asylum seekers to third countries where they may suffer persecution.
“The treaty makes it clear that anyone we send to Rwanda cannot be transferred to another countryexcept back to the United Kingdom,” said Cleverly, who stressed that the new treaty signed with the African country contemplates the creation of a committeemade up of Rwandan and international judges who are experts in asylum matters, in charge of monitoring the processing of applications by the authorities of the African country, in an attempt to establish greater guarantees that the rights of asylum seekers will be respected at all times. The aim is that all refugees sent from the United Kingdom stay in Rwandawhether your application is approved or rejected, except in exceptional circumstances.
Internal tensions
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Sunak has put the ghosts to rest for the moment and has avoided a defeat that would have questioned its continuity at the head of his party and the Government. But the danger remains lurking for the prime minister, who must achieve a difficult balance between the hard sector of his party and the more moderate sectorrepresented by the group One Nationwhich has made respect for the European Convention on Human Rights and international laws regarding protection and asylum to support the standard. In the event that the law undergoes substantial modifications to satisfy the five families, Sunak risks lose the support of the deputies closest to the liberal center.
The prime minister maintains that the current wording of the law is the best way to avoid judicial blockade without abandoning international agreements and has warned that Rwanda requires as a condition that these agreements be maintained. Something that gives the Government little room for maneuver to modify the text. It will be in early January when the bill returns to the House of Commons, at which point Sunak will once again test his leadership and the confidence of MPs from his own party.
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