Ex-Labour law chief demands Rwanda deportation law is DELAYED saying it is too early to know if it is safe for migrants as Lords gear up for fight with Government despite Rishi Sunak's warning not to 'frustrate the will of the people'

Ministers should delay plans to send Channel migrants to Rwanda because it is too soon to say if it is safe, the House of Lords heard today as peers geared up to battle the Government over a new law.

Labour former attorney general Lord Goldsmith today tabled a motion seeking to delay the treaty underpinning the Safety of Rwanda Bill – adding a fresh obstacle to the government’s plans.

Addressing peers at the start of what could be months of to-and-fro in the upper chamber he said that all the new safeguards in the revised treaty should be fully implemented and working before it is passed.

Goldsmith, the chairman of the Lords International Agreements Committee, said there were 10 areas of the treaty that need ‘additional legal and practical steps’.

‘The difficulty is that the Government has already presented a Bill to Parliament asking it to make a judgment that Rwanda is safe now,’ he said.

‘And yet on the Home Secretary’s own evidence it cannot be so because the measures are not in place and have not been shown to be effective…

‘The Government should therefore abide by its usual practice of satisfying Parliament that all measures are in place before ratifying. That is why the committee has recommended that ratification should not take place until certain conditions are met.

Labour former attorney general Lord Goldsmith today tabled a motion seeking to delay the treaty underpinning the Safety of Rwanda Bill – adding a fresh obstacle to the government’s plans.

Peers are gearing up for battle with Rishi Sunak (pictured) today as they attempt to stop the new Rwanda Treaty being ratified

The Upper House (pictured at the state opening in November) is set to start scrutinising the law at the end of the month, but the process will not be complete until at least mid-March

‘We consider the Government should return to Parliament when it believes the treaty is ready for implementation.’

The move comes despite the PM delivering a stark warning that the unelected House must not ‘frustrate the will of the people’ after Rwanda legislation was passed by the Commons.

The UK agreed the treaty with Kigali in December, saying it addressed concerns raised by the Supreme Court about the possibility of asylum seekers deported to Rwanda then being transferred to a country where they could be at risk.

The agreement underpins the legislation designed to get deportation flights up and running by Mr Sunak’s Spring deadline.

However, a report by the Lords International Agreements Committee recommended that Parliament should not ratify the treaty until ministers can show the country is safe.

It insisted safeguards are ‘incomplete’ and must be implemented before the deal can be endorsed.

The debate will give Mr Sunak a first indication of the level of resistance to his flagship policy in the Lords.

The Rwanda Bill was approved by the Commons last week despite major revolts from Tory MPs who demanded it was made tougher.

As it was introduced to the Lords on Thursday there were shouts of ‘shame’ from the red benches.

The Upper House is set to start scrutinising the law at the end of the month, but the process will not be complete until at least mid-March.

Downing Street is likely to face attempts by peers to introduce a range of amendments to the proposed legislation.

Over the weekend Mr Sunak was warned by a former Tory Cabinet minister to tone down threats to peers.

Nicky Morgan, now a Conservative peer, on told the BBC: ‘The last prime minister who used the ‘will of the people’ language – it wasn’t a happy precedent.’