The Government’s dangerous Rwanda Bill looks set to pass next week, after being pushed through ‘ping pong’ between the Commons and the Lords at breakneck speed.

The prospect of removals to Rwanda has already caused huge damage to our communities. People who have sought sanctuary in the UK, and should be starting to put down roots, have instead been threatened with being sent thousands of miles away, to a place where they likely have no connections, indefinitely.

Once this immoral Bill becomes law, that threat will become all too real. The Government has said that it aims to start putting people on planes as soon as the Bill passes – playing politics with people’s lives in the run-up to the election. This obsession with getting people on planes seems to know no bounds – shamefully, there are reports that the Home Office has been ringing people up out of the blue to offer them thousands of pounds if they relocate.

Resistance to these plans continues, and local councillors are key to it. Once people are threatened with removal, local councillors can play a key role in supporting residents at risk of removal, helping them to access legal advice and community support.

The Migrant Champions Network is circulating a joint statement for signature by local councillors, pledging to resist Rwanda removals and support residents at risk. If you are a local councillor concerned by these plans and their impact on your community, please sign and share now! By Mary Atkinson, Labour Hub