Rwanda bill further delayed after Lords again votes for changes

The parliamentary battle over Rishi Sunak’s Rwanda deportation bill will spill into next week after the Lords refused to budge over the rights of Afghans and scrutiny of the treatment of refugees in east Africa.

The move prompted an immediate backlash from the home secretary, James Cleverly, who blamed Labour for blocking the bill and being “terrified” that the Rwanda plan would stop asylum seekers from travelling to the UK in small boats.

Peers voted against the flagship bill for a fourth time and sparked immediate recriminations, as Tories blamed Labour for delaying the government’s plan to “stop the boats” from becoming law.

Peers voted by 245 to 208 in favour of Lord Hope’s amendment that would allow flights to take off only once the home secretary had the right to review Rwanda’s status as a safe country for refugees.

A short time later, the upper chamber inflicted a further defeat, backing by 247 votes to 195 an exemption from removal for those who worked with the UK military or government overseas, such as Afghan interpreters.

Peers voted to amend the legislation for a third time on Tuesday, further prolonging a bicameral battle over the law intended to clear the way for asylum seekers who cross the Channel in small boats to be deported to Rwanda.