'Control has become cruelty': Archbishop of Canterbury attacks government migrant policy

The Archbishop of Canterbury launched a stinging attack on the government’s treatment of migrants and asylum seekers, warning that “control has become cruelty”.

Justin Welby also argued that the controversial plan to deport migrants to Rwanda from the UK for processing was destined to be a “failure”.

Speaking in a debate in the House of Lords, the archbishop cautioned Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and Home Secretary Suella Braverman against the use of “harmful rhetoric” that treats those arriving in the UK as “invaders”.

Since taking office, the PM has pledged tough action to tackle cross-Channel migration, while Ms Braverman has been criticised for her language to describe migrants and her frequent singling out of Albanians after their numbers crossing the Channel in small boats spiralled.

Mr Sunak has also maintained the policy of sending migrants to Rwanda of his predecessors.

Launching an annual Lords debate which he hosts every December, the archbishop told peers that…