PM FACING FURTHER REBELLIONS OVER RWANDA – Backbench Tories call for Downing Street talks
MPs will debate the controversial bill again today after Rishi Sunak faced the biggest mutiny of his premiership so far on Tuesday. The rebels are seeking a face-to-face negotiation in Number 10.
The prime minister could be facing further rebellions from his backbenchers today as MPs return to the Commons to carry on debating the Rwanda bill.
The government insists the proposed legislation aimed at deterring asylum seekers from crossing the Channel in small boats – is the toughest immigration law in history and will revive the scheme after the UK’s Supreme Court ruled it unlawful late last year.
But some Conservative MPs on the right of the party claim it does not go far enough, pushing for harder measures to limit appeals from asylum seekers and to block any rulings from international courts.
Last night, two deputy chairmen of the Tory party and one ministerial aide quit their posts in order to back rebel amendments put forward by veteran MP Sir Bill Cash and former immigration minister Robert Jenrick.
While the amendments were rejected overall by MPs, 60 Conservatives voted in defiance of the government – with further backbench proposals being tabled today. An overall vote on the bill is also scheduled for this evening, and if around 30 Conservatives vote against it, the legislation could fall.