Archbishop of Canterbury suggests changes to Illegal Migration Bill

Justin Welby called on the Government to come up with a 10-year strategy (Pictures: Rex/AFP)

The Archbishop of Canterbury has proposed two amendments to the Government’s Rwanda policy.

Justin Welby, an outspoken critic of the Illegal Migration Bill, called for a 10-year strategy to find long-term and multi-lateral solutions to people trafficking and the refugee crisis.

He tabled the proposed changes to the controversial legislation just in time for it to enter the committee stage in the House of Lords this afternoon.

‘Jesus calls on us to welcome the stranger and seek the good of our communities,’ the archbishop said last night.

‘The bishops in the Lords will continue to speak out for those who are fleeing violence and persecution and seeking safety – and keep calling for an asylum system that reflects our values, moral responsibilities, and place within the international community.

The Archbishop of Canterbury previously called the Bill ‘morally unacceptable’ (Picture: Shutterstock)

Migrants after they were picked up at sea by the RNLI last December (Picture: Getty)

Migrants wait for a lifeboat in the Channel (Picture: Getty)

‘The role of the House of Lords is to improve legislation, not throw it out. The archbishop’s amendments, which have cross-party support, are intended to encourage and support pragmatic, collaborative and long-term solutions to a refugee crisis that is only set to worsen due to climate change and related conflict over the coming decades.’

Today will also see bishops tabling and supporting amendments to the Bill on other areas, including victims of modern slavery and sexual exploitation, protection for children and pregnant women and asylum seekers’ right to work.

Speaking earlier this month at the Second Reading of the Bill, which plans to send migrants to Rwanda, Mr Welby said: ‘Of course we cannot take everyone, and nor should we, but this Bill has no sense at all of the long-term and global nature of the challenge the world faces.

‘Long-term, globally co-ordinated solutions must be part of the way forward. This nation should lead internationally, not stand apart.

‘I intend to table amendments in Committee that encourage this longer-term thinking and collaborative focus, including a plan for combating traffickers and working with international partners to look at updating the 1951 Convention.’

At the time, immigration minister Robert Jenrick accused Mr Welby of being ‘wrong on both counts’.

More: Trending

He told the BBC’s World At One: ‘It’s important that the House of Lords plays its constitutional function scrutinising legislation but I strongly disagree with some of the comments that have been heard in the House of Lords today. This is the right approach.

‘We have to tackle illegal migration and we have to bring control back to our borders. There’s nothing moral about allowing the pernicious trade of people smugglers to continue.

‘I disagree with him respectfully. By bringing forward this proposal we make it clear that if you come across illegally on a small boat you will not find a route to life in the UK.’

Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at [email protected].

For more stories like this, check our news page.

‘Jesus calls on us to welcome the stranger and seek the good of our communities,’ the archbishop said.