Four more ⁦House of Lords⁩ defeats for the government tonight on #RwandaBill , by margins of 17 to 57 votes. This speech by Lord Hope, ex-Deputy President of ⁦⁦UK Supreme Court⁩, well expresses the idiocy of what we are being asked to do hansard.parliament.uk/Lords/2024-04-…. /1

Given how much confusion there is out there, this from Michael Foran is extremely helpful. If you’re worried, or just interested, about what the Hate Crime Act does, please watch this.

David Pannick’s magic never ceases to amaze; he’s now persuaded (with Emily Neill) the Garrick Club that for the last 200yrs it’s overlooked the fact it’s not a male only club. (Presumably, this doesn’t make a difference unless women are now voted in, indeed worse if they’re not)

Legal issue of the day: the Garrick Club rules. Are the rules available publicly anywhere, as opposed to reports of eminent legal opinions on what they say?

Here are the amendments which House of Lords has made to the #RwandaBill . UK House of Commons will consider them tomorrow.
publications.parliament.uk/pa/bills/cbill…

Quick summary of main changes:

- Rwanda only treated as “safe” if arrangements in the UK/R Treaty are implemented & complied with /1

Professor Colm O'Cinneide, Professor of Constitutional and Human Rights Law at UCL Faculty of Laws, has been nominated For election as a Judge of the European Court of Human Rights Colm O'Cinneide tinyurl.com/yc8mn9xu

Extremism aside, the stand out from today's terror stats is - once again - *children*: 42 arrested in 2023 (most ever), children second most numerous category for terror charges (with 30s and over), and *joint top* for terror convictions (with 30s and over) [Table A.10].

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This exchange indicated that the government accepts - through clenched teeth - that compliance with r39 measures is required by international law, save where it is impossible - … /2

Five more big victories in #RwandaBill debates today, to add to Monday’s haul. We had a debate on the proposed new cl5 power for Ministers to disregard r39 interim measures from the ECtHR. My first contribution is here: hansard.parliament.uk/Lords/2024-03-… /1

Very important initiative- Women in UK Public Law Group. Well done, Daniella Lock and others.

Five huge majorities in House of Lords today to amend #RwandaBill , with more votes likely on Wednesday (Afghans, children, victims of slavery, clause 4, backlog). My rule of law amendments, supported by Ken Clarke and others, went through by 87 and 91 votes - others by 100+.

The House of Lords has voted by 274 votes to 172, a majority of 102, to amend the Rwanda Safety Bill, by adding that it should “maintain full compliance with domestic and international law.”

(The government opposed this amendment).

votes.parliament.uk/votes/lords/di…

House of Lords have voted (by large majorities) to amend the Rwanda Bill to:
- add to its purposes compliance with the rule of law
- require the Sec of State to consider all relevant evidence and certify to parliament that Rwanda is safe as a condition of making removals /1

committees.parliament.uk/committee/327/…

Clear and informative post, as always from Tom Hickman, on deprivation of citizenship orders, as used to stop Shamima Begum returning to the UK.

This is a hugely important thread on the powers govt has to take away UK citizenship from ANYONE they think is entitled to other county citizenship.

Really excellent thread on deprivation of citizenship.

Top thread, as ever. These powers now have liminal scrutiny and that is something no one with any constitutional scruples should be comfortable with.

The Rwanda Bill is debated in the House of Lords this week. Here are the proposed amendments - including important changes to ensure the Bill can’t be implemented until all the safeguards in the Treaty are in place and Rwanda is safe in practice

bills.parliament.uk/publications/5…