Rishi Sunak's migration bill "will have profound consequences for people in need of international protection", a UN body has warned, as protesters greeted the arrival of the first barge that will house asylum seekers under government plans.
The criticism followed Monday night's crushing of the final resistance to the plans in the House of Lords, as the Conservative frontbench saw off five further changes to the bill including modern slavery protections and child detention limits.
"This bill sets a worrying precedent for dismantling asylum-related obligations that other countries, including in Europe, may be tempted to follow, with a potentially adverse effect on the international refugee and human rights protection system as a whole," said the UN high commissioner for human rights, Volker Türk, as he urged the UK government to renew its commitment to human rights by reversing the law.
The key legislative plank of Sunak's "stop the boats" promise fell into place before the belated arrival in Portland, Dorset, of the Bibby Stockholm yesterday, a vessel that will be used to house 500 asylum seekers in a trial designed to take the pressure off hotels.
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