Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby vows to continue fighting the government’s immigration reforms
Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby vows to continue fighting government’s immigration reforms – insists he ‘will not give up’ his opposition
The Archbishop of Canterbury has vowed to challenge the government’s immigration reforms.
Justin Welby warned that he and other bishops in the House of Lords “will not give up” their opposition to Suella Braverman’s Illegal Migration Bill.
The legislation, currently before the Lords, contains a range of measures to ‘detain and swiftly remove’ migrants arriving in Britain via ‘irregular’ routes, such as across the Channel by small boat.
The Archbishop’s renewed attack on the proposals came as former Prime Minister David Cameron urged critics to stop voicing opposition unless they have a ‘better answer’.
In his most recent highly political intervention on the issue, Mr Welby wrote in the Times: ‘This bill will do little to solve the existing problems, and will exacerbate others, while causing serious suffering to the most vulnerable.
The Archbishop of Canterbury has vowed to continue fighting the government’s illegal migration law. Pictured: Justin Welby during a debate on the bill in the House of Lords on May 10
He has warned that he and other bishops will not give up their opposition to the bill, led by Secretary of the Interior Suella Braverman. Pictured: Ms Braverman with (left to right) Welsh Minister David TC Davies, Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and Chancellor of the Exchequer Jeremy Hunt during the Prime Minister’s questions in the House of Commons today
“Those who sit on the pew will not neglect our duty to point out when governments propose legislation that is impractical or immoral.
“We will not abandon the most vulnerable to whom Jesus Christ specifically calls us to love.”
The archbishop said he had tabled amendments to the bill designed to be “helpful” rather than “destructive,” which would require ministers to “develop long-term strategies to tackle human trafficking and the refugee crisis.”
The Anglican leader previously called the bill “morally unacceptable”.
And in his Easter speech last year, he said the UK Home Office’s £140 million deal to send migrants to Rwanda “would not withstand the judgment of God”.
Meanwhile, former Prime Minister Cameron said he was “deeply sympathetic” to the government’s efforts to dismantle the trafficking of human smugglers.
He told LBC radio station: “I think if you don’t have a better answer to the things the government is doing to stop this illegal trade, I don’t think there’s any point in criticizing it.”
At least 50 migrants have crossed the Channel by small boat today, although the total number so far this year is lower than in 2022.
Former Prime Minister David Cameron has said people should not criticize the Rwanda plan unless they have “a better answer” to stop people smugglers. Pictured: Mr. Cameron records an interview with LBC’s Nick Ferrari on Tuesday
Official data from the Interior Ministry — excluding yesterday’s unconfirmed number of arrivals — shows 7,297 people have made the treacherous journey so far this year.
At the same point in 2022, the figure stood at 9,296.
Last year a record 45,755 migrants were detected arriving by small boats – 60 percent more than last year’s 28,526.
Mr Welby’s amendments to the bill are expected to be voted on in July.
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