Lords vote to delay treaty declaring Rwanda safe in warning shot to Sunak© Provided by The i / Photo Courtesy

Rishi Sunak will override an attempt by the House of Lords to delay the troubled Rwanda deportation policy, Downing Street indicated yesterday.

The House of Lords voted by a majority of 43 to delay a treaty with the east African nation that is intended to make the policy legally watertight by essentially showing the country is safe.

 

But the Prime Minister’s official spokesman said the Government would “continue” its process to ratify the treaty, part of a two-pronged plan alongside Mr Sunak’s Safety of Rwanda Bill to revive the deportation deal.

Peers agreed on Monday evening with an argument that the treaty should not be approved because the promises made in it have not yet been delivered.

The treaty contains commitments from the Government of Rwanda to treat asylum seekers well and ensure they are not returned to their home country if that will put them in danger.

It is separate to the Safety of Rwanda Bill, which was approved by the House of Commons last week and moves to the Lords next week. By Arj Singh, The I