It’s not been a great couple of days for our Government in terms of managing to respect the basics of international law.

Courts already blocked a previous proposal to deport asylum seekers the UK is obliged to allow to Rwanda. Now Sunak is trying to publish legislation that detains and deports all asylum seekers that come here via small boats. The idea has been condemned by a wide range of individuals and organisations. But morals aside, the UNHCR says it’s likely illegal.

The indefinite detention of those seeking asylum, based solely on their mode of arrival, would punish people in need of help and protection and constitute a clear breach of the United Kingdom’s obligations under the 1951 Refugee Convention.

For what it’s worth. analysis from the Refugee Council showed that most of last year’s arrivals would in fact be legitimately granted asylum.

Next up on a different topic, workers rights, the government is trying to introduce some new anti-strike laws that require minimum service levels in a wide range of industries deemed critical. Any actual specifics, such as the minimum service levels are going to be is entirely undefined, risking letting any government arbitrarily do whatever it wants with those aspects in the future. Punishment for not following whatever is decided includes threats such as sacking and huge fines being levied if they’re not met.

The UK’s Joint Committee on Human Rights says this is entirely unjustified, disproportionate and may well breach article 11 of the European Convention of Human Rights.

Per the committee’s chair, Joanna Cherry,

…the bill, in our view, is likely to be incompatible with human rights law which provides a right to association and with it, protection for strike action.”