Rishi Sunak’s bid to prevent more migrant deaths in the English Channel has been dealt a fresh blow.
The House of Lords voted again on Wednesday to water down plans to deport asylum seekers to Rwanda.
This is despite warnings that further amendments to the Rwanda Bill would “perpetuate the endless cycle of legal challenges”.
Peers inflicted a fresh defeat by voting by 271 to 228, majority 43, to press their demand that the legislation has “due regard” for domestic and international law.
Lord Stewart of Dirleton had earlier told Peers: “His Majesty’s Government would be entirely delighted if no one were ever sent to Rwanda because the deterrent effect was effective.
“These amendments simply perpetuate the endless cycle of legal challenges and render the Bill worthless.
“Steps must be taken now. We must address, urgently, the matter of fatalities in the Channel. This Bill will do that.”
Lord Stewart argued criticism of the Tory administration over the Rwanda Bill was “fundamentally misconceived”.
He said: “We cannot allow people to make such dangerous crossings and we must do what we can to prevent any more lives from being lost at sea.
“Neither can we allow our asylum and legal systems to be overwhelmed, our public services to be stretched or the British taxpayer to continue to fund millions of pounds spent every day on hotel costs.”
He added: “We cannot continue to allow relocations to Rwanda to be frustrated and delayed as a result of systemic challenges mounted on its general safety.”
Earlier he told peers: “It is the Government and not the courts who are accountable.
“The courts are accountable to no-one. They pride themselves on that.
“But accountability is at the heart of democracy. That is why the Government are fully entitled to bring forward the Bill and why much of the criticism directed at them for doing so is fundamentally misconceived.”
MPs overturned 10 changes made by those on the red benches when the Bill was in the Commons on Monday, and Downing Street and ministers have urged the Lords to agree to the legislation in its current form.
And further defeats in the Lords are expected to delay the first flights to Kigali further.
No 10 officials insist that even if the legislation is not passed until after Easter, the Prime Minister can still meet his goal of having the first planeload of asylum seekers heading to the east African country this spring.
It comes amid a busy day for Channel crossings, with pictures showing large numbers of people being brought ashore by Border Force in Dover, Kent.
Some 3,529 migrants have arrived in the UK so far this year after making the journey from France, according to the latest provisional Home Office figures.
Mr Cleverly told the Daily Express: “It has always been illogical to argue the Rwanda scheme won’t work while trying everything and anything politically to ensure it can’t.
“The more this Bill progresses, the more worried Labour get that, as we’ve always said, it will work and the more we’ve anticipated deliberate efforts from Labour to delay, disrupt or sabotage the scheme.
“We remain focused on not letting that happen, and hope their lordships recognise it’s time to let this Bill pass so we can continue to stop the boats, and save lives”.
