A LABOUR peer leading efforts to frustrate the Rwanda plan on safety grounds has declared earnings of more than £380,000 from a country accused of torturing people.
Lord Peter Goldsmith was paid the massive sum for legal work done for the Government of Azerbaijan – which has a poor human rights record.
Last night he successfully spearheaded a rebellion to delay Rishi Sunak’s new treaty with Kigali that underpins the flagship migration scheme.
Lord Goldsmith – the Attorney General for PM Tony Blair – tabled a motion from his cross-party committee that said the deal should not be signed without certain “protections” for asylum seekers.
But his recent work for Azerbaijan – first revealed by TalkTV – risks dragging him into a hypocrisy row.
His Lords register of interests shows £381,244 from the Azerbaijan Government last year through legal firm Debevoise and Plimpton LLP, where he is a co-managing partner.
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According to Human Rights Watch, authorities imprison political opponents on bogus charges.
Their 2022 report also highlighted “systemic torture and ill treatment in custody and restrictions and media freedoms”.
Downing Street today insisted the Rwanda plan would not be thrown off track by last night’s vote on Lord Goldsmith’s motion.
Peers voted by 214 to 171 in favour of halting ratification of the new deal with Rwanda for fear it lacks certain safeguards.
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Mr Sunak’s spokesman said the non-binding motion would not “impact our timelines for the progress of the Bill or getting the flights off the ground” by the spring.
But is a statement of intent that the Lords will try to scupper the PM’s Bill when it comes to the upper House next week.
Foreign Secretary Lord Cameron said: “It’s not acceptable to have people travelling from a perfectly safe country – France – to another safe country – Britain – and to be able to stay, and that’s what the Rwanda plan is all about and why I urge the House of Lords to pass this Bill.”
The Sun has contacted Lord Goldsmith for comment.
