Quite apart from the inhumanity & lack of ethical policy, or the naked cynicism, or irony in Johnson complaining about unlawful activity, who does he plan to send to Rwanda? The Ukrainian refugees his govt hasn’t processed, the Afghan refugees still stranded in hotel lobbies…?
When the details of this new low in British policy are announced tmw, Johnson must be grilled on the crucial *details* of offshoring e.g.
- is this indiscriminate or to whom will it apply?
- safeguarding for vulnerable people & minors?
- permanent or temporary?
- cost? Etc.
UNHCR: Bill would penalise most refugees seeking asylum in the UK, creating an asylum model that undermines established international refugee protection rules & practices.
A reminder of what happened just last week as the House of Lords voted to reinstate a number of amendments in #NationalityAndBordersBill which the UNHCR has urged the govt to accept.
These policies form part of the hostile environment that are being entrenched ever further.
Just caught up with the full Rwanda announcement. Full of ill-thought through contradictions, no workable detail and so unethical, never mind very vulnerable to legal challenge, the latter may well be the point. Blame the foreigners, blame lawyers, blame the law, leave the ECHR…
Incredibly depressing, if now predictable, to see the govt cynically treating law & lawyers upholding the law, (domestic & international) & the rights of vulnerable people, as fair political game, again.
A deliberate unravelling of confidence in those that hold them to account.
Imagine if Johnson had described this country’s “formidable army of lawyers” as a credit to the country he boasts is world-leading, essential to its strong rule of law traditions, acting in their client’s best interests before a confident, independent judiciary…imagine that.
UKSC judges Lords Reed & Hodge have resigned with immediate effect from Hong Kong’s Court of Final Appeal - saying they can’t continue to sit without appearing to endorse an administration which has departed from political freedom & freedom of expression. supremecourt.uk/news/role-of-u…
Many are asking - why now?
Foreign Sec Truss has claimed responsibility in saying the “benefit they bring to the court as excellent jurors is now outweighed by the risk of legitimising a system that enforces Beijing’s laws, which are being used as a tool of oppression.”
Truss: UK govt has withdrawn political support for British judges sitting on Hong Kong’s top court. She expressly cites unjustified threats made by HK authorities to @hk_watch under the #NSL.
The threats, like the sanctions against UK lawyers & parliamentarians are outrageous.
ICJ ordered the following provisional measures - the Russian Federation:-
1. shall immediately suspend the military operation in the territory of Ukraine
2. Shall ensure any military/irregular armed units directed or supported by it..take no steps to further such operation. 👇🏼
See here to the link for a summary of the @CIJ_ICJ order indicating provisional measures in the case brought by Ukraine v Russia. icj-cij.org/public/files/c…
And here for a succint analysis of what the judgment entails 👇🏼
Not least in a pandemic, in a climate crisis, in a cost of living crisis, in a grave international crisis, in the Brexit crisis created by those running the country.
In all seriousness, someone just told @Channel4News that the Prime Minister was “ambushed with cake”.
With a straight face.
The lack of direction, leadership, integrity and focus at the heart of government is the clear fault and responsibility of the Prime Minister.
Thank you to all the peers who are showing great commitment & integrity as they stay late to knock back some of the disturbing provisions in the #PolicingBill, despite govt attempts to prevent scrutiny by scheduling.
This is no way to run a democracy. But the govt knows that.