The British government's plans to send migrants to Rwanda cannot stand up to the judgment of God, the head of the Church of England has warned.
Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby made the stark intervention on his country's immigration plans in his Easter sermon at Canterbury Cathedral today.
He said measures announced by British Prime Minister Boris Johnson and Home Secretary Priti Patel this week "cannot carry the weight of our national responsibility as a country formed by Christian values".
This is "because sub-contracting out our responsibilities, even to a country that seeks to do well, like Rwanda, is the opposite of the nature of God who himself took responsibility for our failures".
Earlier this week the UK government announced plans to curb migrant crossings of the English Channel in small boats.
People who are deemed to have entered Britain by unlawful means since 1 January may be sent to Rwanda where they will be permitted to apply for asylum in the African country.
The measures have faced a fierce backlash from British opposition parties, some within the Conservative Party, and charities.
The UN Refugee Agency opposed the plans and yesterday Robina Qureshi, director of the UK refugee homelessness charity Positive Action in Housing, said: "The refugee policy of this country should be clear by now.
"It's not about saving refugees' skins, it's about saving this government's skin."
Conservative MPs have backed the plans, claiming the small boats issue is important to constituents.
But the archbishop said there are "serious ethical questions about sending asylum seekers overseas".
He added: "The principle must stand the judgment of God, and it cannot.
"It cannot carry the weight of resurrection justice, of life conquering death. It cannot carry the weight of the resurrection that was first to the least valued, for it privileges the rich and strong."
Meanwhile, Brexit Minister Jacob Rees-Mogg has suggested his government's immigration plan also creates an "opportunity for Rwanda".
Speaking on BBC Radio 4's The World This Weekend, he said: "What is being done is providing an opportunity for Rwanda because it will provide Rwanda, a country that needs support and has gone through terrible troubles... and the Rwandan story is almost an Easter story of redemption, isn't it?
"Of a country that suffered the most appalling and horrific genocide and is now recovering and therefore the UK supporting it must be a good thing."
The Scottish National Party has described the plan to send migrants to Rwanda as a "cataclysmic waste of taxpayers' money".
The party's home affairs spokesman, Stuart McDonald, described it as an "abhorrent policy" and called on Westminster to drop the plan and use the money to support people hit by the cost-of-living crisis.
Mr McDonald said: "The UK Government's decision to proceed with this abhorrent policy is utterly shameful and will only add to the pain and suffering being felt by those fleeing their homeland."
However, the UK Home Office and Ms Patel defended the agreement, signed last week with the Rwandan minister for foreign affairs Vincent Biruta.
She said she expected other countries to follow the UK's example, while her ministerial office insisted its approach was not in breach of refugee agreements.
