The Rwanda plan for refugees is shocking, but we don’t need to bring God into it | Simon Jenkins

Justin Welby's invocation of the Almighty only confuses the forces that need mustering against Boris Johnson's cruel policy

Boris Johnson's government's proposal to deport asylum seekers of whatever origin who arrive on unauthorised routes, such as by crossing the Channel, to Rwanda in east Africa is beyond callous. It is understandable that the archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby, should want to add his voice to the protests. But invoking God's judgment in the matter leaves him vulnerable to a second question. If the Almighty did offer him such an opinion, what did He suggest be done instead?

The government's argument for deportation is bizarre. It is that people smugglers along the French coast are endangering the lives of refugees - so it is bold and innovative" to arrest and expel the latter. To Jacob Rees-Mogg this is almost an Easter story of redemption". Redemption for whom? What do these people think they are doing? It is like reacting to a spate of burglaries by locking the victims outside their homes.

Simon Jenkins is a Guardian columnist