Speaking in the House of Lords in a debate on the Safety of Rwanda Bill, Welby said: “It is damaging for asylum seekers in need of protection, and safe and legal routes to be heard.

“It is damaging for this country’s reputation, which contradicts even as late as last week, where the Prime Minister himself spoke eloquently on the value and importance of international law for this country.

“It is damaging in respect of constitutional principles and the rule of law. And most of all, it is damaging for our nation’s unity.

“In a time when the greatest issues of war, peace, defence and security need us to be united, we are united on, I think almost all benches, in agreeing that the boats must be stopped.

“And this government is to be congratulated that the number has come down, that the people smugglers who trade in human misery must be brought to justice – and it is good news that the groups have been broken up – and we need to be united on effective controls on agreed limits to immigration.

“The right way forward though is to enable the unity on ends to be translated into a unity on means, and that is not happening in the way these bills are successively brought to the house and brought to the country.”