By Rédaction Africa Links 24 with VOA
Published on 2024-01-18 02:41:17
U.K. Prime Minister Rishi Sunak successfully navigated resistance within the Conservative Party to push forward his controversial plan to send some asylum-seekers to Rwanda in a one-way journey. Despite a rebellion from his party’s lawmakers, Sunak managed to secure a 320-276 vote in favor of a bill aimed at overcoming a U.K. Supreme Court block on the Rwanda plan.
The contentious immigration policy, which is considered central to Sunak’s bid for re-election this year, continues to face political and legal challenges. Although the legislation passed in the House of Commons, it is expected to encounter further opposition in the upper chamber of Parliament, the House of Lords.
Sunak’s government has been struggling with internal divisions, a demoralized party, and a waning public approval as indicated by recent polls. The Prime Minister has vehemently defended the deportation of unauthorized asylum-seekers, citing the deterrent effects on risky migration and the disruption of people-smuggling operations.
Despite backing from a faction of the Conservative Party, the Rwanda plan has sparked disagreement among party members. Moderates have raised concerns about the extreme nature of the policy, especially after the United Nations refugee agency expressed that it may be in violation of international refugee law. On the other hand, hard-liners within the party believe that the bill does not go far enough in deterring migration.
Opposition leader Keir Starmer criticized the Conservatives for their internal strife over the policy, likening it to “hundreds of bald men scrapping over a single broken comb.” As the bill faces scrutiny in the House of Lords, the conversation around its legality and implications for international law is expected to continue.
The uneasy alliance between the liberal and law-and-order wings of the Conservatives is further exacerbated by the disagreement over the Rwanda plan. Meanwhile, Rwanda has expressed its exasperation with the British government’s handling of the deal, with President Paul Kagame insisting that it is the U.K.’s problem, not Rwanda’s.
Sunak’s government continues to defend its position, emphasizing a prior agreement with Rwanda and how the implementation of the plan is tied to international law. However, the bill’s passage in the House of Lords could face further challenges, as the opposition to the Rwanda policy remains persistent.
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