Archbishop condemns 'ungodly' Rwanda asylum scheme as Home Office concerns made public

17 April 2022, 07:25 | Updated: 17 April 2022, 15:29

The Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby has hit out at Priti Patels' Rwanda asylum refugee plans.
The Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby has hit out at Priti Patels' Rwanda asylum refugee plans. Picture: Alamy

By Sophie Barnett

The Archbishop of Canterbury has condemned the Government's "ungodly" plan to send migrants thousands of miles to Rwanda, as it was confirmed the Home Office's most senior civil servant has concerns about the value for money of the scheme.

Listen to this article

Loading audio...

In his Easter sermon at Canterbury Cathedral, Justin Welby criticised Priti Patel's plans to ship those who have made the perilous journey in small boats across the Channel thousands of miles away.

The proposals have been slammed as "evil" and "cruel", with the UN Refugee Agency raising concerns about Britain's plans, claiming it's a breach of international law.

An exchange of letters published by the Home Office on Saturday night showed the department's Permanent Secretary Matthew Rycroft warned Home Secretary Priti Patel that although it was "regular, proper and feasible for this policy to proceed", there was "uncertainty surrounding the value for money of the proposal".

But issuing a rare ministerial direction compelling the plans to go ahead despite the concern, Ms Patel said that "without action, costs will continue to rise, lives will continue to be lost".

The Home Office has continued to defend its proposals.

Conservative MPs have backed the plans, claiming the small boats issue is important to constituents.

But the archbishop said there are "serious ethical questions about sending asylum seekers overseas".

Read more: Patel hails 'world-class' plan to send migrants to Rwanda amid reports of Home Office row

Read more: Boris deploys the Navy to stop Channel migrants as fury erupts over Rwanda plans

Sadiq Khan attacks PM's plan to send asylum seekers to Rwanda for processing

In his Easter sermon, the Archbishop said: "The resurrection of Jesus is not a magic wand that makes the world perfect.

"But the resurrection of Christ is the tectonic shift in the way the cosmos works. It is the conquest of death and the opening of eternal life - through Jesus, a gift offered to every human being who reaches out to him."

He continued: "Let this be a time for Russian ceasefire, withdrawal and a commitment to talks. This is a time for resetting the ways of peace, not for what Bismarck called blood and iron. Let Christ prevail. Let the darkness of war be banished.

"And this season is also why there are such serious ethical questions about sending asylum seekers overseas.

"The details are for politics. The principle must stand the judgment of God, and it cannot. It cannot carry the weight of resurrection justice, of life conquering death. It cannot carry the weight of the resurrection that was first to the least valued, for it privileges the rich and strong.

"And it cannot carry the weight of our national responsibility as a country formed by Christian values, because sub-contracting out our responsibilities, even to a country that seeks to do well like Rwanda, is the opposite of the nature of God who himself took responsibility for our failures."

Read more: Govt signed refugee deal months after condemning Rwanda for human rights abuses

Caller debates UK's Rwanda refugee deal

The senior bishop and principal leader of the Church of England also addressed the cost-of-living crisis in his Easter Sunday speech.

He also recognised that families are waking up "cold and hungry" as we face the greatest cost-of-living crisis "we have ever known".

The Russian's barbaric invasion of Ukraine and the devastating loss from the Coronavirus pandemic will also be addressed.

Earlier, former child refugee and Labour peer Alf Dubs said ministers would face opposition in the Lords over the Rwanda asylum plan.

In an interview with The Guardian, Lord Dubs said the Government was attempting to "ride roughshod" over international agreements.

Read more: 'We're a silly little island!': Natasha Devon savages the UK's Rwanda refugee deal

LGBT+ refugees are 'terrified' of going to Rwanda, says Peter Tatchell

He said: "I think it's a way of getting rid of people the Government doesn't want, dumping them in a distant African country, and they'll have no chance of getting out of there again.

"I think it's a breach of the 1951 Geneva conventions on refugees. You can't just shunt them around like unwanted people."

Ms Patel has defended her "world-class" plan, claiming it will become a "blueprint" for other European countries, such as Denmark.

"There is no question now that the model we have put forward, I'm convinced, is world class and a world first, and it will be used as a blueprint going forward, there's no doubt about that," Ms Patel said.

"I would not be surprised if other countries start coming to us direct on the back of this as well."

More Latest News

See more More Latest News

England fans reported a 'heavy-handed' approach from Greek police.

FA launches investigation as England fans report 'heavy-handed policing and tear gas' before Greece clash

Prince William was met with boos as he left Ulster University on Thursday.

Prince William booed by 'pro-Palestine' protestors during Belfast visit

The grandmother said she was hauled off a flight after a row over a sandwich

Grandmother, 79, 'hauled off a Jet2 flight by armed officers for refusing to pay £9 for a frozen tuna bap'

Exclusive
Sam Eljamel's victims have called for justice

'There has to be a day of reckoning': Patients left disabled and injured by rogue surgeon demand extradition from Libya

The fire broke out at a nursing home

At least ten dead and more injured in fire at Spanish nursing home

Exclusive
Feargal Sharkey and LBC tested the River Colwill

UK's biggest water company fails three environmental tests carried out by Feargal Sharkey and LBC

Rachel Reeves confirmed the tax hike in her autumn Budget

Rachel Reeves 'not satisfied' as UK growth slows between July and September

Trump continues to name his cabinet

Trump’s controversial Cabinet - Anti-vax RFK Jr nominated as health chief as defence figures ‘alarmed’ by Gabbard

Portrait Of Shel Talmy

Music producer Shel Talmy, who worked with The Who and David Bowie, dies aged 87

Exclusive
Lillington Gardens in Pimlico has won multiple awards for its design but residents' lives are being affected by damp and mould

Mould, leaks and collapsing roofs: Inside Britain’s ‘best council estate’

Metropolitan Police officers walking a beat on patrol in Fulham, London

Child, 9, among kids investigated by police for hate ‘incidents’ after calling classmate ‘r****d’

South Yorkshire Police Headline Image

Elderly woman in life-threatening condition after prison transport vehicle collides with pedestrians

c

Chancellor sets out financial reforms in key speech as she criticises measures brought in after 2008 economic crash

Holidaymakers Begin Christmas Getaway

More than 700,000 passengers suffered delays after password of engineer allowed to work remotely didn't work

Weather maps show areas of the UK which could be hit by snow

UK weather maps show regions expected to see heavy snowfall as cold and wintry spell on the way

Cynthia Erivo

Wicked star Cynthia Erivo says feeling like an outsider and 'not fitting in' drew her to role of Elphaba