10 May 2023 , 11:08
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The Archbishop of Canterbury has launched a scathing attack on "morally unacceptable" Government plans to lock up refugees who reach the UK by small boats.
Archbishop Justin Welby - fresh from his central role at King Charles's Coronation on Saturday - lashed out at Suella Braverman's draconian Illegal Migration Bill, saying it will do huge damage to the UK's standing in the world.
In a rare intervention he told peers that the legislation "fails to live up to our history, our moral responsibility and our political and international interests".
And in a devastating assessment of Ms Braverman's proposals, the Archbishop told the House of Lords there were "too many problems for one speech in this bill".
Mr Welby called it "isolationist", and said: "It's morally unacceptable and politically impractical to let the poorest countries deal with the crisis alone and cut our international aid."
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Church leaders came out against the legislation, with the bishops of Durham and Gloucester also voicing their opposition.
He said the bill will "greatly damage" the UK, stating: "The UNHCR (United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees) has warned that the bill could lead to the collapse of the international system that protects refugees.
"Is that what we want the United Kingdom's contribution to be in our leadership?"
The Archbishop of Canterbury has lashed out at the Government's small boats bill (Parliament TV)And he warned that allowing the bill to pass could have devastating consequences for the UK.
Mr Welby said: "My Lords, this bill is an attempt at a short-term fix.
"It risks great damage to the UK's reputation at home and abroad, let alone the interests of those in need of protections or the nations who together face this challenge.
"Our interests are closely linked to our reputation for justice and the rule of law and our measured language, calm decision and careful legislation.
"None of those are seen here."
The bill also came under fire from the Bishop of Durham, Paul Butler, who said it "poses fundamental questions about who we are as a nation".
"The state will view a child or a pregnant woman as individuals subject to immigration control, not as an innocent child or a vulnerable mother about to give birth," he said.
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Home Secretary Suella Braverman has been heavily criticised for the bill (UK PARLIAMENT/AFP via Getty Imag)"We need to ask - what about the Government's duty to protect?"
The Bishop added: "I am reminded of Jesus' words: It would be better to have a millstone around the neck and be cast into the sea than to cause a little one to stumble.
"This responsibility needs to bear upon us heavily."
And Bishop of Gloucester Rachel Treweek voiced her alarm about the denial of modern slavery support for those who arrive in the UK by irregular means.
"It seems so wrong on so many levels, not least morally," the Bishop said.
"Why would anyone come forward as a victim of modern slavery? Why risk being sent to Rwanda?"
She continued: "I see a worrying failure to recognise the trauma experienced by victims."
Labour peer Lord Alfred Dubs, who arrived in the UK as a child refugee fleeing the Nazis in 1939, said "notorious abusers of human rights" would be empowered if the bill goes through.
And Baroness Sharmishta Chakrabarti, also a Labour peer, said: "The politics of this bill is populist, divisive distraction from economic turmoil caused by mismanagement and by greed.
"Increasingly this is a desperate electoral strategy of culture war."
She continued: "The core of the evil of this measure - and my Lords that's not a word I use lightly - the evil is the notion of punishing some of the most genuine refugees on account of their necessarily clandestine nature of their escape."
And Baroness Chakrabarti continued: "I can't quite believe our values have sunk to this."
Under the plans, anyone who arrives in the UK will be detained and deported - sparking alarm about the treatment of children and victims of trafficking.
Ms Braverman's bill would see refugees denied protection under modern slavery laws - a move critics including former PM Theresa May say will be a gift to traffickers.
Critics say the Government's small boats strategy is unworkable and unethical (AFP via Getty Images)This morning a call was put forward by Lord Brian Paddick to throw the bill out altogether.
Lord Paddick described the legislation as a "low point in the history of this Government".
Meanwhile Labour's Lord Vernon Coaker - who said his party would not back the call to throw the bill out, instead seeking to improve it - said: "In response to a broken system the Government is playing fast and loose."
He told the Lords that Ms Braverman's measures amount to "even more gimmicks".
This morning Ms Braverman pleaded with peers not to tear her treasured bill - which has been condemned by the UN High Commissioner for Refugees - to pieces.
She said: "We cannot allow a system to continue which incentivises people to risk their lives and pay people smugglers to come to this country illegally.
"This is neither compassionate nor fair, which is why our Illegal Migration Bill is designed to end illegal entry as a route to asylum in the UK by deterring migrants from making the journey in the first place.
Former I'm A Celebrity Get Me Out of Here contestant and ex-deputy assistant commissioner of the Met Police Lord Paddick led a call for the bill to be scrapped altogether..
He said: "This bill is seeking to deny human rights to a group of people desperately seeking sanctuary."
Lord Paddick said: "The Human Rights Act is being revoked one bill at a time. This bill is a low point in the history of this Government."
The Lib Dem peer said it shouldn't proceed as it doesn't meet the UK's international law commitments and doesn't address the problems it's supposed to solve.
Lord Paddick told the House of Lords the legislation should be thrown out because it "undermines the UK’s tradition of providing sanctuary to refugees by removing their legal right to claim asylum".
His motion to deny the bill a second reading was supported by Green Party peers.
Lib Dem peer Lord Paddick called for the bill to be killed off (Parliament TV)Baroness Jenny Jones said ahead of the debate: “This Bill is illegal because it breaks international law and should be opposed for that reason alone. It is also immoral and plain nasty.
"It effectively makes all asylum seekers criminals unless they are from a few select countries where the UK has approved pathways and safe routes for immigration such as Hong Kong.”
And fellow Green peer Natalie Bennett said: "This unilateral, illegal, bill can only reduce the chances of working with our neighbours for a fair, just, workable system."