Church of England bishops voted against the government Rwanda bill again in the Lords

RELIGIONS NEWS AGENCY (REDNA) – Four Church of England bishops joined opposition peers in voting against the government’s Rwanda bill in the Lords yesterday.

The legislation allows for the deportation of failed asylum seekers to Rwanda.

The bishops of Chelmsford, Manchester, Southwell and Nottingham and Worcester backed all amendments including measures to ensure due regard for domestic and international law, declare Rwanda safe only after a treaty bringing in safeguards, and to exempt people who have served in British armed forces.

It was not the first time CofE bishops had resisted the bill. They voted for amendments when the bill was debated in the Lords a few weeks ago, all of which were then rejected by the Commons.

But when the bill came back to the Lords yesterday, they continued their resistance. In a process known as “ping pong”, the bill now has to go back to the Commons until both chambers can agree the wording, but this will not happen until after the Easter recess in mid April.

The delay enacting the bill means the government may miss its declared intention of sending off the first flight to Rwanda this spring.