THE chairman of the Conservative ERG group of MPs has called on the Government to withdraw the Rwanda deportation bill and retrun with one that “doesn't have all these holes in it”.
Mark Francois MP told GB News: “In summary, the bill overall provides a partial and incomplete solution to the problem of legal challenges in the UK courts being used as stratagems to delay or defeat the removal of illegal migrants to render a partial and incomplete solution.
“So, the bill as drafted is not really fit for purpose. The consensus of a meeting of five different backbench groups that I just finished chairing was that the Government, rather than plough on regardless, would be better to pull the bill and to come back with a better draft that doesn't have all these holes in it.”
Speaking to Christopher Hope, he continued: “This bill means that individuals can keep tying the Government up in legal knots. That's why it needs to be redrafted.
“The bill, because of the shape of it, because of its style, its legal structure would be quite difficult to amend.
“It would be far better to withdraw the bill and come up with something which is much better written right from the word go.”
He added: “I think now that the Star Chamber, who I think most people accept know their business, they've been through it with a fine toothcomb or forensic analysis. They've concluded that the bill isn't really fit for purpose.
“I very much hope that, rather than plough on and damn the torpedoes, the Government will listen, exercise common sense, pull the legislation and come back with something that is fit for purpose.
“We've had two previous legislative attempts at this. The nationalities and borders bill that didn't quite work, the illegal immigration bill that didn't quite work.
“This really is the last chance so the Government would be well advised to get it right.”
