Former Tory Home Secretary hopes 'dangerous' Rwanda Bill is struck down by court

14 February 2024 , 14:07

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Lord Clarke said he hopes the Bill is struck down by the courts if it passes

A former Tory Home Secretary says he hopes the Government's "extremely dangerous" Rwanda scheme is struck down by the courts if Parliament passes it.

Ken Clarke told peers he is "completely flabbergasted" by Rishi Sunak's attempt to resurrect the project after it was deemed illegal by the Supreme Court. The Tory grandee, who was Home Secretary and Chancellor under John Major and Health Secretary in Margaret Thatcher's Government, branded the latest Bill "preposterous".

Speaking as peers tore the Safety of Rwanda Bill to shreds in the House of Lords, he said: "I continue to be completely flabbergasted by the constitutional implications of the government acting in this way." He said he hadn't expected ministers to respond to the Supreme Court ruling by trying to pass a law declaring Rwanda a safe place to send asylum seekers.

Lord Clarke went on: "I think it sets an extremely dangerous precedent. For that reason, I very much hope that there will be a legal challenge which will enable the Supreme Court to strike it down as unconstitutional in due course. But the better step would be for Parliament not to pass the legislation in the first place."

Lord Deben is the latest Thatcher-era Tory grandee to hit out at the Rwanda Bill

He became the latest Thatcher-era Tory heavyweight to lash out at the Government. Earlier former party chairman Lord Deben, who led the party between 1983 and 1987 and also served in John Major's cabinet, said he was horrified that modern slavery victims could be forced onto flights.

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Lord Deben, who was a Tory MP for over 30 years as John Gummer, told the House of Lords: "I must say, I am a bit tired of having to remind this Government about what it means to be a conservative." He went on: "We have a reputation in the world because of our Modern Slavery Act. It was a brave and important thing to do.

"It was welcomed across the whole house. I am proud that it was a Conservative government that did this. I'm not proud that there is a Conservative government undermining that when we know that more than three quarters of those who appeal in these circumstances are found to be right in their appeal."

He is the latest Tory grandee who served under Mrs Thatcher to hit out at Rishi Sunak's controversial Safety of Rwanda Bill. On Monday Lord Tugendhat - uncle of Home Office minister Tom Tugendhat - accused ministers of acting like "despots". He added that Mrs Thatcher wouldn't have supported it as she believed in the rule of law.

Mr Sunak's Bill seeks to override a Supreme Court ruling that sending asylum seekers to Rwanda is unlawful. If passed, the Bill will see MPs declare that it is - although he faces a wave of opposition in the House of Lords.

In a scathing broadside Labour peer Lord Browne gave examples of Afghans who had worked alongside British forces who fled the Taliban and arrived in small boats. The Government has been urged to exempt soldiers who fight for the UK from being sent to Rwanda.

Lord Stirrup, former chief of the defence staff said: " How trustworthy does anybody think we will be seen if we have taken those who have already served so faithfully in such difficult circumstances and sent them to Rwanda?"

He continued: "So for those who are not swayed by a sense of moral obligation, I ask you to consider the future effectiveness and safety of the men and women of our armed forces who are sent out to do such difficult and dangerous things in these parts of the world."

Dave Burke