“An entirely political exercise” – Carmichael condemns Rwanda Bill as legislation sent back to Lords

Orkney and Shetland MP and Liberal Democrat Home Affairs spokesperson, Alistair Carmichael, has condemned the government’s Safety of Rwanda Bill as “an entirely political exercise” in debates on the legislation last night in Parliament. During the debate Mr Carmichael noted concerns about the safety of Rwanda in the case of a conflict with the neighbouring Democratic Republic of the Congo, warning that “the determination to legislate to say that somehow or another the sky can be green and the grass can be blue takes no account of those real challenges that are coming down the track”.

The proposed law would legally declare Rwanda to be a safe place in order to ensure that the UK can deport asylum seekers there. The legislation comes after the Supreme Court ruled last year that such flights could lead to human rights breaches. The bill now returns to the House of Lords after Conservative MPs voted down amendments proposed by the upper house.

Speaking in the House, Mr Carmichael said:

“We have spoken an awful lot about the rule of law. To be honest, this Bill and this debate are not about the rule of law; they are an entirely political exercise. It is all about politics in the run-up to the election.

“In January, the US State Department was saying to Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of the Congo that they had to walk back from the brink in the conflict between them. If either or both of them choose not to, where will that leave the safety and stability of Rwanda as a destination for us to send people?

“The determination to legislate to say that somehow or another the sky can be green and the grass can be blue takes no account of those real challenges that are coming down the track.

“It is not to be forgotten that the roots of this legislation are to be found in a Supreme Court judgment. Obeying the law is not an optional extra for any Government.

“If we were serious about finding a solution to the problem and breaking the business model of the people traffickers, the Government would be taking in all parties to try to find a common way forward. In fact, they are doing the opposite. They are seeking to manage the issue politically in such a way as to increase division and not to build consensus. In the time remaining to them in government, they will be able to win votes like this, but they will not do anything to stop the traffic. Ultimately, they will have to be replaced by those who will.”