UK Parliament / Open data

Nationality and Borders Bill

My Lords, justice and immigration offences should make a distinction between those seeking illegal entry and desperate people seeking

asylum or who eventually receive it. Immigration offences must also make a distinction between the trafficker and the rescuer. They are two completely different creatures. Surely there is wit and wisdom in government to be able to make a distinction in the Bill in relation to these two categories of humanity.

I too congratulate the noble Lord, Lord Macdonald of River Glaven, on his patience and his eloquence about why putting people’s lives at risk at sea is contrary to international law. I fear that international law is not always the most persuasive argument with the Government so instead I just say: let us not put people’s lives at risk at sea. It is cruel and inhumane. It is not who we are. It is just plain wrong.

Type
Proceeding contribution
Reference
818 cc1531-2 
Session
2021-22
Chamber / Committee
House of Lords chamber
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