Member

I turn now substantively to Amendment 203I from the noble Lord, Lord Murray of Blidworth, also spoken to by the noble Baroness, Lady Lawlor. This would narrow the UK’s current interpretation of Article 31, preventing refugees who travelled to the UK through a safe third country from relying on a defence under Section 31, even when it was not reasonable for them to have sought protection in that country. This amendment risks undermining the intention of Article 31 of the convention. As I said, I am not entirely clear how, if we were applying that principle in good faith, we would be taking in many potential asylum seekers at all.