UK Lords to challenge PM Sunak's Rwanda deportation plan

The UK's House of Lords is set to discuss a motion on Monday aimed at postponing the government's Rwanda deportation plan until it can be shows that the east African state is safe for asylum seekers.

The International Agreements Committee, led by Labour peer Peter Goldsmith, suggests that "improvements" such as a better complaints process and training for Rwandan officials are necessary prerequisites.

The Rwanda deportation plan, a cornerstone of Prime Minister Rishi Sunak's immigration policy, aims to send certain asylum seekers to Rwanda for processing.

The plan has sparked controversy and legal challenges, with critics concerned over Rwanda's human rights record.

In November last year, the UK Supreme Court ruled that the plan was unlawful, breaching the European Convention on Human Rights, due to the risk of refugees being returned to countries where they might face harm.

Labour and Liberal Democrat peers, as well as some Conservatives, are expected to support the postponement motion.

Some Liberal Democrats are also considering a separate "fatal motion" to completely halt the bill's progress.

Sunak urged Lords not to obstruct what he called "the will of the people," emphasising the treaty's signing and the legislation's passage in the House of Commons.

Polls indicate mixed support for the plan, with higher backing among Conservative voters.

If the Lords pass the Goldsmith motion and the government accepts it, this could delay the plan for months, impacting the government's immigration strategy ahead of the 2024 general election.