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09 February 2024 / Michael Zander KC
Issue: 8058 / Categories: Features , Immigration & asylum
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Tracking the Rwanda Bill

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In the first part of a special NLJ series, Michael Zander KC analyses the Lords debate on the Bill’s second reading
  • Unusually strong feeling in the Lords, after Lord German moved an amendment to the Rwanda Bill, triggering a vote on the second reading.

Introducing the Safety of Rwanda (Asylum and Immigration) Bill, Lord Stewart of Dirleton, Advocate General for Scotland, said: ‘We recognise that some of the provisions in the Bill are novel. However, the Government are satisfied that the Bill can be implemented in line with both our domestic law and international obligations’ (Hansard, HL Vol 835, col 1006).

That view did not find a great deal of support during that second reading debate on Monday, 29 January. A second reading debate normally goes through without a vote. But this Bill raises unusually strong feeling and an amendment moved by Lord German (Lib Dem) proposed that the Bill should not be read a second time, ‘because it (1) places the United Kingdom at risk of breaching its international

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MOVERS & SHAKERS

Constantine Law—Anita Vadgama

Constantine Law—Anita Vadgama

New senior partner hire at consultant-led employment / regulatory law firm

Ward Hadaway—Emma Swann & Jill Donabie

Ward Hadaway—Emma Swann & Jill Donabie

Firm adds two partners to growing education practice

mfg Solicitors—Lauren Collins, Emily Stancer & Sara Southall

mfg Solicitors—Lauren Collins, Emily Stancer & Sara Southall

Trio of newly qualified solicitors strengthens Worcester office law firm

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One out of two barristers has come under pressure from clients to act unethically, according to the results of this year’s Barristers’ Working Lives survey
The Court of Appeal has held the Competition Appeal Tribunal (CAT) was wrong to set aside a Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) decision on unfair pricing of phenytoin, an epilepsy drug
A flagship employment law reform is due to come into effect on 1 July, extending unfair dismissal rights to employees after six months in their job instead of two years
The European Council has postponed the EU-UK summit, where discussions on a youth mobility scheme and other issues had been due to take place, due to Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s resignation
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