Peers have inflicted a string of defeats against the Government’s controversial immigration revamp. Among the measures rejected in the House of Lords was a move to treat asylum seekers differently based on whether they entered the UK legally or “illegally” and a proposal to allow people to be stripped of their British citizenship without warning.
The votes came against the backdrop of thousands of Ukrainian civilians fleeing the conflict with Russia and criticism of the Home Secretary’s response to the unfolding refugee crisis. The dismissal of key reforms contained in the flagship Nationality and Borders Bill sets the stage for a protracted round of parliamentary ping-pong, where legislation passes between the unelected chamber and the Commons.
The Government had argued the planned differentiation in the treatment of asylum seekers, depending on how they arrived in the country, was aimed at discouraging people from travelling to the UK other than via safe and legal routes, given the continuing problem of English Channel crossings. But the measure drew strong criticism in the Lords.
