It passed. We tried to stop the Rwanda bill with a Fatal Motion proposed by the Lib Dems back in January. We knew that the government would never listen to reasoned amendments. This was not in the Conservative Party manifesto. The Lords could have stopped it. Below is the text of Natalie Bennett’s speech at the end of the Labour resistance to the Rwanda Bill in the Lords. 

“I rise with a heavy heart.. To this this dreadful international law busting bill” “Amnesty international warned airline companies that many members of the public take an extremely negative view of the Rwanda policy”

“Those were unnecessary words because no company of any repute whatsoever is going to take part in the Rwanda scheme”

“We’ve had the abomination of the elections act, the elements of a policing act, we’ve had multiple indefensible restrictions on the right to protest. Now, we are letting through an attack on some of the most vulnerable, desperate people on this planet”

“What more will we let through? I suggest to noble lords as they leave this chamber tonight to ask themselves that question. With a desperate flailing government bereft of ideas, and philosophy without principles. This house will keep being tested”

“So I ask these empty benches. You might be waiting for an election, but what kind of country will it be if you don’t stand up now?”

Read the whole of last night’s debate here