Archbishop of Canterbury to criticise small boats bill in House of Lords

It will be the first time that Justin Welby, the most senior cleric in the Anglican church, has publicly criticised the government’s flagship asylum bill. Photograph: Richard Wainwright/AAP

The archbishop of Canterbury will make a rare intervention in the House of Lords to join dozens of peers condemning the government’s flagship asylum bill.

Justin Welby will argue against measures championed by Rishi Sunak and Suella Braverman that seek to criminalise people seeking refuge in the UK if they arrive on small boats.