Peers clashed over the government's plans to deport illegal migrants to Rwanda (Image: Getty)
The Archbishop of Canterbury was told “hand-wringing” will not solve the small boats crisis after he led opposition to the Rwanda bill.
Justin Welby criticised the deportation plan for “leading the nation down a damaging path” and claimed the nation can “do better”.
But Lord Dobbs hit out at critics for choosing the “moral high ground” instead of tackling the “sickening“ trade.
The House of Cards author said: “No amount of hand wringing is going to make it go away.”
Powered By
00:00/00:42
10
10
Josie and Dermot open Thursday's This Morning
Share
Next
Stay
He said opponents should come forward with alternatives if they are against the plan.
Trending
“If we stand still and do nothing the consequences for this country are likely to be catastrophic,” he added.
The Safety of Rwanda Bill, which will allow the government to send illegal migrants crossing the Channel in small boats to the east African nation, faces a rocky ride in the House of Lords.
Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has urged peers against blocking “the will of the people” by opposing the Bill.
But Mr Welby accused the Government of outsourcing the country’s “legal and moral responsibilities”.
The top Anglican cleric argued “a pick-and-choose approach to international law” undermined the UK’s global standing as he signalled he may seek to block the policy at a later date.
He said: “We can, as a nation, do better than this Bill.
“With this Bill the Government is continuing to seek good objectives in the wrong way, leading the nation down a damaging path.
“We need a wider strategy for refugee policy which involves international co-operation and which equips us for the far greater migration flows, perhaps 10 times greater in the coming decades, as a result of conflict and climate change and poverty. Instead this Bill offers only ad hoc one-off approaches.”
Tory former chancellor Lord Clarke said he will not support the bill unless it is substantially amended.
He said it is “necessary to have a credible and effective policy on illegal migration”, as it had a “symbolic effect” on public opinion.
“If they think we have lost control then that threatens a very nasty change in public attitudes caused by doubts,” he warned.
DON'T MISS
Powered by
Lords warned being 'too obstructive' on Rwanda will strengthen calls to abolish them
134 Comments
Sack them all! Nigel Farage rages at Lords as Rwanda plan suffers first defeat
2069 Comments
The future of democracy depends on the House of Lords respecting the Rwanda bill
40 Comments
Labour is simply not equipped to put forward any kind of viable plan - Matt Warman
25 Comments
Shapps urges action on Channel crisis, Jenrick questions Rwanda bill and ECHR
145 Comments
Rishi Sunak handed blueprint for shock election win with 'radical offer' on immigration
160 Comments
Tory plotters warned that May day coup against Rishi Sunak is 'too late' to oust the PM
90 Comments
Rishi Sunak vows to defy European judges over Rwanda despite bitter judge's warning
1299 Comments
Lee Anderson claims he was offered ￡400k to quit Tory Party for Reform UK
150 Comments
Parliament could abolish House of Lords if Rwanda scheme wrecked
677 Comments
Labour MP humiliates herself in Commons clash with Suella Braverman on Rwanda Bill
733 Comments
Top Euro court judge compares Rishi Sunak to Vladimir Putin as Rwanda showdown looms
585 Comments
Tories warned voters will punish them for 'extraordinary capitulation' on Rwanda vote
1481 Comments
Rishi Sunak set to be rocked by 'seismic' by-election as Reform unleashes volunteer army
1277 Comments
Fed-up Tories ditching party for Reform UK with members growing sick of 'abhorrent' spats
206 Comments
Peers threaten to derail Rishi Sunak's Rwanda bill, Tory MPs warn of opposition
568 Comments
Lord Cameron urges Lords to back Rwanda asylum plan
29 Comments
House of Lords 'protecting democracy from itself' as it refuses to ratify Rwanda plans
232 Comments
Anti-Rwanda Peer says it's job of unelected Lords to 'protect democracy from itself'
385 Comments
Post Office fury erupts again as demands grow for Justin Welby to resign amid case links
119 Comments
Lords warned being 'too obstructive' on Rwanda will strengthen calls to abolish them
134 Comments
Sack them all! Nigel Farage rages at Lords as Rwanda plan suffers first defeat
2069 Comments
The future of democracy depends on the House of Lords respecting the Rwanda bill
40 Comments
Labour is simply not equipped to put forward any kind of viable plan - Matt Warman
25 Comments
Shapps urges action on Channel crisis, Jenrick questions Rwanda bill and ECHR
145 Comments
Rishi Sunak handed blueprint for shock election win with 'radical offer' on immigration
160 Comments
Tory plotters warned that May day coup against Rishi Sunak is 'too late' to oust the PM
90 Comments
Rishi Sunak vows to defy European judges over Rwanda despite bitter judge's warning
1299 Comments
Lee Anderson claims he was offered ￡400k to quit Tory Party for Reform UK
150 Comments
Parliament could abolish House of Lords if Rwanda scheme wrecked
677 Comments
Labour MP humiliates herself in Commons clash with Suella Braverman on Rwanda Bill
733 Comments
Top Euro court judge compares Rishi Sunak to Vladimir Putin as Rwanda showdown looms
585 Comments
Tories warned voters will punish them for 'extraordinary capitulation' on Rwanda vote
1481 Comments
Rishi Sunak set to be rocked by 'seismic' by-election as Reform unleashes volunteer army
1277 Comments
Fed-up Tories ditching party for Reform UK with members growing sick of 'abhorrent' spats
206 Comments
Peers threaten to derail Rishi Sunak's Rwanda bill, Tory MPs warn of opposition
568 Comments
Lord Cameron urges Lords to back Rwanda asylum plan
29 Comments
House of Lords 'protecting democracy from itself' as it refuses to ratify Rwanda plans
232 Comments
Anti-Rwanda Peer says it's job of unelected Lords to 'protect democracy from itself'
385 Comments
Post Office fury erupts again as demands grow for Justin Welby to resign amid case links
119 Comments
Lords warned being 'too obstructive' on Rwanda will strengthen calls to abolish them
134 Comments
Sack them all! Nigel Farage rages at Lords as Rwanda plan suffers first defeat
2069 Comments
The future of democracy depends on the House of Lords respecting the Rwanda bill
40 Comments
Labour is simply not equipped to put forward any kind of viable plan - Matt Warman
25 Comments
Shapps urges action on Channel crisis, Jenrick questions Rwanda bill and ECHR
145 Comments
Rishi Sunak handed blueprint for shock election win with 'radical offer' on immigration
160 Comments
Tory plotters warned that May day coup against Rishi Sunak is 'too late' to oust the PM
90 Comments
But the Tory peer said Parliament overruling the courts on Rwanda’s safety set a “very dangerous constitutional provision”.
Labour former home secretary Lord Blunkett said: “This is nothing to do with finding solutions, it is everything to do to virtue signalling, as you might in quotes put it… to a particular part of the electorate and to find scapegoats for Government failure.”
Become an Express Premium member Support fearless journalism Read The Daily Express online, advert free Get super-fast page loading
Start 30-day
FREE trial