Lords push back on Rwanda bill again – despite PM declaring ‘enough is enough’

Published

7 months ago

April 22, 2024

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The House of Lords has pushed the government’s Rwanda Bill back to the Commons again as a row continues over the controversial plan to “stop the boats”.

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak told reporters on Monday that “enough is enough”, promising the legislation would pass its final parliamentary stages this evening, “no matter how late it goes”.

But peers are now testing this pledge, insisting MPs take another look at one of the changes they want implemented to the bill – which aims to see asylum seekers making Channel crossings deported to the African nation – for the fifth time.

Politics live: Follow the latest from parliament as MPs and peers vote on Rwanda bill

Ministers made a concession earlier on Labour peer Lord Browne’s proposal that sought to ensure asylum seekers who had worked with British armed forces abroad were not deported – with the government promising to reassess all those from Afghanistan whose claims had been rejected under the Afghan Relocations and Assistance Policy (ARAP) scheme.

Home Office minister Lord Sharpe told the chamber: “The government recognises the commitment and responsibility that comes with combat veterans, whether our own or those who have shared courage by serving alongside us, and we will not let them down.”

But there was no compromise on offer for Lord Hope’s amendment, which would require an independent body to rule Rwanda as a “safe country”, rather than just declaring it in law – and peers backed his call by 240 votes to 211.

Crossbencher Lord Anderson, who was representing his colleague in the debate, said: “In a less frenetic political environment, this common sense amendment or something very like it could, I am sure, have been hammered out between sensible people around a table.

“Sadly, that does not appear to be the world that we are in.”

The embattled bill will now head to the Commons where, due to the government’s majority, the peer’s proposal is likely to be rejected by MPs – unless ministers make a further concession.

It will then return to the Lords for a second time later tonight where peers will have to decide whether to dig their heels in once more, or finally give their approval to the bill.

Both Houses will need to agree to the legislation before it can become law, and voting could continue into the early hours of Tuesday morning before a conclusion is reached.

The Rwanda plan, first announced by Boris Johnson two years ago, has seen millions already paid to the country to set up facilities to house asylum seekers, but no one has been sent there yet.

However, Mr Sunak insisted that after it became law, the first flights would take off in 10 to 12 weeks, and would then act as a deterrent against people making the dangerous journey in small boats.

The prime minister blamed Labour peers for the delays, following multiple rounds of so-called “ping pong” between the two Houses.

But he has faced trouble from his own side too, with Tory MPs on the right insisting the law won’t be tough enough, and more centrist Conservative peers criticising its methods.

The scheme has also faced legal hurdles, with the UK’s Supreme Court ruling it unlawful last November.

But the prime minister believes his changes to the legislation – which include stating in law that Rwanda is a “safe country” and introducing a treaty with the nation – will ensure its future.

Politics

BIT Mining to pay $10M fine for bribing Japanese politicians in former life

Published

5 hours ago

November 19, 2024

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BIT Mining to pay M fine for bribing Japanese politicians in former life

BIT Mining, previously known as online sports casino 500.com, made around $2.5 million worth of bribes to Japanese officials between 2017 and 2019.

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Coinbase CEO to meet with Trump to discuss personnel appointments — WSJ

Published

8 hours ago

November 18, 2024

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Coinbase CEO to meet with Trump to discuss personnel appointments — WSJ

Before US Election Day, Brian Armstrong said Coinbase was “prepared to work” with either a Kamala Harris or Donald Trump administration.

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Row over how many farms will be affected by inheritance tax policy – as PM doubles down ahead of farmers protest

Published

9 hours ago

November 18, 2024

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Row over how many farms will be affected by inheritance tax policy - as PM doubles down ahead of farmers protest

Sir Keir Starmer has insisted the “vast majority of farmers” will not be affected by changes to Inheritance Tax (IHT) ahead of a protest outside parliament on Tuesday.

It follows Chancellor Rachel Reeves announcing a 20% inheritance tax that will apply to farms worth more than £1m from April 2026, where they were previously exempt.

But the prime minister looked to quell fears as he resisted calls to change course.

Speaking from the G20 summit in Brazil, he said: “If you take a typical case of a couple wanting to pass a family farm down to one of their children, which would be a very typical example, with all of the thresholds in place, that’s £3m before any inheritance tax is paid.”

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The comments come as thousands of farmers, including celebrity farmer Jeremy Clarkson, are due to descend on Whitehall on Tuesday to protest the change.

And 1,800 more will take part in a “mass lobby” where members of the National Farmers’ Union (NFU) will meet their MPs in parliament to urge them to ask Ms Reeves to reconsider the policy.

Speaking to broadcasters, Sir Keir insisted the government is supportive of farmers, pointing to a £5bn investment announced for them in the budget.

He said: “I’m confident that the vast majority of farms and farmers will not be affected at all by that aspect of the budget.

“They will be affected by the £5bn that we’re putting into farming. And I’m very happy to work with farmers on that.”

Sir Keir’s spokesman made a similar argument earlier on Monday, saying the government expects 73% of farms to not be affected by the change.

Environment, Farming and Rural Affairs Secretary Steve Reed said only about 500 out of the UK’s 209,000 farms would be affected, according to Treasury calculations.

However, that number has been questioned by several farming groups and the Conservatives.

Government figures ‘misleading’

The NFU said the real number is about two-thirds, with its president Tom Bradshaw calling the government’s figures “misleading” and accusing it of not understanding the sector.

The Country Land and Business Association (CLA) said the policy could affect 70,000 farms.

Conservative shadow farming minister Robbie Moore accused the government last week of “regurgitating” figures that represent “past claimants of agricultural property relief, not combined with business property relief” because he said the Treasury does not have that data.

Agricultural property relief (APR) currently provides farmers 100% relief from paying inheritance tax on agricultural land or pasture used for rearing livestock or fish, and can include woodland and buildings, such as farmhouses, if they are necessary for that land to function.

Farmers can also claim business property relief (BPR), providing 50% or 100% relief on assets used by a trading business, which for farmers could include land, buildings, plant or machinery used by the business, farm shops and holiday cottages.

APR and BPR can often apply to the same asset, especially farmed land, but APR should be the priority, however BPR can be claimed in addition if APR does not cover the full value (e.g. if the land has development value above its agricultural value).

Mr Moore said the Department for the Environment, Farming and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) and the Treasury have disagreed on how many farms will be impacted “by as much as 40%” due to the lack of data on farmers using BPR.

Lib Dem MP Tim Farron said last week1,400 farmers in Cumbria, where he is an MP, will be affected and will not be able to afford to pay the tax as many are on less than the minimum wage despite being asset rich.