Archbishop of Canterbury risks undermining fight against ‘evil’ over Rwanda deportation plan, warns James Cleverly

THE Archbishop of Canterbury risks undermining the fight against “evil” over the Rwanda deportation plan, the Home Secretary has warned.

James Cleverly said there is “nothing honourable or righteous” about trying to block the scheme — to fly illegal migrants to the African nation — without a credible alternative.

Archbishop Justin Welby is a fierce critic of the policy — and has said it is “leading the nation down a damaging path”.

He has teamed up with Labour peers to table amendments that would torpedo the government plan.

But hitting back, Mr Cleverly said people smugglers will carry on sending people to their deaths in ­dinghies in the English Channel unless drastic action is taken.

He told the Sun on Sunday: “These are people smugglers. These are criminals. They are perpetrating an evil. Bishops talk about good and evil, and we have got to do something about it.

“For those people who are attempting to block the Rwanda Bill going through the House, unless they are able to put forward some credible alternative as a deterrent, they should let me deploy this to deter people from making this crossing and to break the business model of these people smuggling gangs.”

The Home Secretary said he “listens” when the Archbishop talks and it is “understandable” people sitting in the Lords have different opinions.

But he added: “There is nothing honourable, there is nothing righteous, about removing one of the tools to break criminality.”

Warning those trying to kill his Bill, he said: “I am not going to entertain wrecking amendments or things to kill that off. It is far, far too important for that.”

The Bill is back in the House of Lords in a week’s time.

The Archbishop of Canterbury has joined forces with Labour Baroness Chakrabarti and former president of the Supreme Court Baroness Hale to table amendments.

If passed, they would effectively hand the controversial UN a veto.

A spokesman for the Archbishop pointed out he voted against a motion demanding the Rwanda Bill be scrapped altogether this week.

He added: “The amendments he has supported ensure that our immigration policy complies with the rule of law.”