Rishi Sunak faces new Rwanda revolt from Tory left in fresh party turmoil - live

Rishi Sunak has been hit by a fresh headache on his flagship Rwanda bill, as senior Conservatives on the left said they would join right-wing rebels in pushing for changes ahead of an expected second vote in January.

The embattled PM had believed he could count on Tory MPs in the moderate “One Nation” wing, as he fights to appease their rivals on the right who are demanding tougher deportation legislation.

Justice Secretary Alex Chalk suggested the government would not cede to right-wingers by toughening up the bill, despite their threats to vote it down.

But, as No 10 prepares for crunch talks with the right-wingers over Christmas, senior Tory moderates told The Independent they were considering how to amend the bill to soften it.

Earlier, Sir Keir Starmer mocked Tory MPs who criticised Rishi Sunak in the press in PMQs.

The Labour leader goaded the Tory benches, saying: “Come on, come on. Who was it who said he’s a really bad politician? Hands up.”

Meanwhile, Mark Drakeford announced he was standing down as Welsh Labour leader, triggering a contest to find his successor.

Key Points

• Starmer mocks unity of Tory party at PMQs

• Mark Drakeford to stand down as Labour first minister of Wales

• Sunak’s popularity hits new low, poll suggests

• Home secretary denies Rwanda Bill will be killed next year

• Sunak faces new year showdown with Tories over Rwanda policy after Commons win

• Is it time the Rwanda scheme was scrapped? Join the Independent Debate

We’re pausing for the night - be back tomorrow for more updates

23:43 , Alex Ross

Tory minister takes brutal swipe at David Cameron over China

22:00 , Jane Dalton

A Conservative cabinet minister took a swipe at David Cameron over his past support for closer ties with China in the latest sign of Tory infighting:

Tory minister takes brutal swipe at David Cameron over China

Badenoch warned against accusing MP of lying

21:00 , Jane Dalton

Equalities minister Kemi Badenoch has been warned about the use of “unparliamentary language” after she accused an MP of lying.

During an appearance at the Women and Equalities Select Committee on Wednesday, the Cabinet minister took exception with Labour MP Kate Osborne saying she had previously used “inflammatory language that likens children and young people coming out as trans to the spread of a disease”.

Ms Badenoch, who is also the Business and Trade Secretary, said: “I have never said that, that is a lie.

“That is a lie and I think you should withdraw that statement. That is a lie. You are lying.”

Ms Osborne, MP for Jarrow, said she was “not lying to you” but Ms Badenoch shot back: “You are lying. I have never used the word ‘disease’ and this is exactly what I am talking about - you are making statements at a select committee that are untrue.”

Caroline Nokes, committee chairwoman, interrupted to say: “Can I just remind the minister that that is unparliamentary language to use?”

The equalities minister said: “For many years, many transgender people were living their lives peacefully, nobody had an issue.

“It wasn’t until predators started exploiting the loopholes that we are having to tighten this.

Ms Badenoch said action was needed to protect single-sex spaces because there are “more people who are predators than there are people who are trans”.

A field guide to the varied species of Tory MP

20:30 , Jane Dalton

There is a remarkable number of factions within the parliamentary Conservative party. Sean O’Grady has a spotters’ guide to the Tory tribes:

What are the so-called ‘five families’ of the Tory party in Westminster?

Sunak hit by new revolt from Tory left as talks set to ruin PM’s Christmas

19:52 , Jane Dalton

Rishi Sunak has been hit by a fresh headache on his flagship Rwanda bill, as senior Conservative on the left said they would join right-wing rebels in pushing the PM to change the bill:

Sunak hit by new Rwanda revolt from Tory left as talks set to ruin PM’s Christmas

Starmer dubs Sunak festive ‘donkey’

19:00 , Jane Dalton

Keir Starmer dubbed Rishi Sunak a festive “donkey” at PMQs as he said the Tory party lacked “three wise men”.

Mocking the prime minister over the Tory Christmas party, the Labour leader said: “Apparently he’s holding a Christmas party next week ... how’s the invite list looking?”

Sir Keir added: “They’ve obviously found the donkey for their nativity – the search for three wise men may take longer.”

The Labour leader went on to highlight plotting on the Tory back benches, saying Mr Sunak’s MPs were “swirling around… pretending to be members of the mafia”.

He added: “When is he going to get a grip and focus on the country?”

Lord Chancellor Alex Chalk grilled on Rwanda Bill

18:00 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain

The Government is committed to “staying within the four corners of our international legal obligations”, Lord Chancellor Alex Chalk said as he was grilled on concerns around the Rwanda Bill.

Appearing before MPs and peers on the Joint Committee on Human Rights, he said: “This Bill has been carefully designed and carefully engineered to ensure, as I’ve indicated, that we can do what we need to do while staying within the four corners of our international legal obligations.”

He confirmed that even with the legislation, the UK will remain a party to the European Convention of Human Rights.

Mr Chalk, who is also the Justice Secretary, said: “The central argument we make is that so long as there is the ability of an individual to get before the court to advance their points, which might relate to their own specific circumstances, plus of course section four remains, we say that that fulfils article 13 obligations, which means that we remain within the the convention.

“As I said, that’s something we’re committed to doing.”

17:30 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain

Sunak labelled as ‘desperate’ and more unpopular than Boris Johnson in PMQs clash

Afghans flown to UK told to sign legal agreement with Home Office or face homelessness

17:00 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain

Afghans who are eligible for resettlement will be flown to the UK imminently from Pakistan and told to sign a Home Office legal agreement or face homelessness.

The refugees, who have been trapped in limbo in Islamabad, have been told they will have seven days to seek legal advice before they must enter into an “excluded licence agreement” to qualify for temporary accommodation.

Veterans minister Johnny Mercer told MPs that 250 Afghans are being flown to the UK on Wednesday, with more to follow.

Holly Bancroft reports:

Afghans flown to UK told to sign legal agreement or face homelessness

Rwanda bill should be softened ‘if anything’, says Tory moderate

16:30 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain

The former justice secretary Robert Buckland – keen to avoid any breach of international law – has suggested the Rwanda bill should be softened “if anything”.

The One Nation wing of moderates are not pushing for amendments, but have warned Rishi Sunak not to toughen the bill under pressure from the right.

However, Mr Buckland sounded as though he might be keen for a push to soften the bill.

He LBC Radio: “I can’t see any tweaks that are being suggested by some colleagues on the right that are going to make this bill work.

“If anything, it probably should be tweaked in the other direction, and if it was I would think there are numbers within the House of Commons … and certainly the House of Lords, to amend the bill to make it legally more workable.”

Warning “the battle will come” in the new year, Mr Buckland suggested he could not keep supporting the bill if it was made more draconian.

“I think that if there are amendments that further tighten up, allegedly tighten up, this bill then I think there will be a problem from people like me, frankly,” he said.

He warned against “a pointless legal fight” with the courts.

Infighting risks ‘sleepwalking’ into Labour government, says Tory MP

16:00 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain

Tory MP Philip Davies warned that the party could be “sleepwalking into a Labour government” if the infighting on Rwanda continues.

The right-winger told GB News: “We’re in danger here of sleepwalking into a Labour government … It’s incumbent on all of us in the Conservative party to get behind the prime minister and actually turn our guns rather than on ourselves.”

Jenrick hopes he can persuade Sunak to change Rwanda bill

15:40 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain

Former immigration minister Robert Jenrick said that he has “hope” that he can persuade Rishi Sunak to make significant changes to the Rwanda bill.

“The public expect us to secure our borders so I will always fight for that and I am pleased that it sounds as if there is a way forward where we can make the bill better,” said the hardliner – who abstained on last night’s vote.

Asked if he thought Mr Sunak could make changes, Mr Jenrick said: “I certainly hope so. He shares my determination to fight this issue.”

Sunak promises ‘transitional arrangements’ for those hit by family visa changes

15:22 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain

Rishi Sunak was probed on family visa system changes – announced as part of his legal immigration crackdown – which means any overseas worker earning less than £38,700 will struggled to bring a spouse to the UK.

With uncertainty over what happens to families already in the UK, Labour MP Stephen Timms asked whether they would be exempt when visas were due for renewal.

Mr Sunak replied: “The family immigration route as he knows does contain provision for exceptional circumstances, but more generally it’s also right … to look at transitional arrangements to ensure that they are fair.”

He added: “The Home Office are actively looking at this and will set out further information shortly.”

Tory MP Nick Fletcher compared to Enoch Powell after ‘disgraceful’ rant in Rwanda debate

15:00 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain

A Tory MP has come under fire for claiming immigration has turned parts of the UK into a “ghetto” and that NHS waiting lists are long in some areas because “people do not speak English”.

In an inflammatory intervention that drew comparisons with Enoch Powell’s Rivers of Blood speech, MP for Doncaster Nick Fletcher said his constituency was “full” of immigrants as he railed against “left-wing” lawyers who he claimed were trying to scupper the government’s Rwanda plan.

“It’s happening in Doncaster and it’s happening in places throughout this country, and we are turning parts of our community into a ghetto, and this is what is happening,” Mr Fletcher told MPs in the House of Commons on Tuesday.

Tory MP compared to Enoch Powell after ‘disgraceful’ rant in Rwanda debate

Sunak ‘gets on’ with Italian PM, says No 10 when asked about Rome trip

14:45 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain

Rishi Sunak is pencilled in to head to Italy this weekend, as a surprise guest at a political festival run by Italian PM Giorgia Meloni’s hard-right Brothers of Italy party.

Mr Sunak’s press secretary said Mr Sunak and Ms Meloni “get on”.

The No 10 official added: “They obviously get on. They have a like mind on wanting to act on illegal immigration, and they’ve formed an effective working relationship on that.”

‘I’m up for a fight’: Nigel Farage threatens war after ITV boss’s ‘w***er’ gesture

14:31 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain

Nigel Farage has embarked on a war of words with ITV’s director of television, accusing him of making life “quite unpleasant” and warning him against a “war”.

The former Ukip and Brexit Party leader has claimed since leaving I’m a Celebrity, Get Me Out of Here! that he was deliberately censored and that ITV reduced his airtime and chose to show him naked.

In a short speech during his return to GB News, he said: “It seems whilst I was in there, one or two people at the top of ITV were doing their best to make life quite unpleasant for me.

“I don’t want to spoil the glow that I have after doing I’m a Celebrity and I have no criticisms at all of the production team or anybody involved in that programme but I would say to you Mr Kevin Lygo, the boss of ITV, it’s up to you mate.”

‘I’m up for a fight’: Nigel Farage threatens war after ITV boss’s ‘w***er’ gesture

Sunak will listen to Rwanda bill suggestions – and could meet rebels over Christmas

14:16 , Adam Forrest

Pressed on the push from the Tory right on the Rwanda bill, Rishi Sunak’s official spokesman said: “We will have discussions with colleagues, we will listen to any suggestions on amendments.”

Pushed on whether Mr Sunak would entertain tightening the law in order to further limit the scope for individuals to appeal, the No 10 official replied: “I’m not going to get drawn into drawing lines about what we will or will not consider.”

The PM’s spokesman did not deny Mr Sunak could hold meetings with Tory rebels over the Christmas break, saying only that “Discussions will continue.”

There was no answer to questions about the timetable for the bill in January, but No 10 insisted the bill was an “urgent” and the legislation could still be consider an “emergency”, despite parliamentary recess beginning on Tuesday next week.

14:00 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain

Starmer references Christmas song to take swipe at Sunak

Rishi Sunak now as unpopular as Boris Johnson when he quit, poll reveals

13:45 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain

Rishi Sunak’s popularity has hit a record low, and he is now as unpopular as Boris Johnson before he was forced out of Downing Street.

As the prime minister battles a civil war on the Tory back benches, his favourability with the public has continued to plunge.

In a damning poll conducted ahead of Tuesday’s crunch vote on Mr Sunak’s Rwanda bill, just 21 per cent of people said they have a positive view of the PM.

That compared with 70 per cent of people who said they view him negatively, leaving his approval rating at -49, a 10-point drop from the end of November. It is also 30 points below Mr Sunak’s rating when he took over as PM.

Rishi Sunak now as unpopular as Boris Johnson when he quit, poll reveals

Rishi Sunak mocked for losing WhatsApp messages despite being a ‘tech bro’

13:30 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain

Rishi Sunak has been mocked for losing his WhatsApp messages despite being a “tech bro”.

The prime minister, who often touts his tech-savvy credentials and had a love in with Tesla boss Elon Musk last month, was unable to hand over his WhatsApp messages to the official Covid-19 Inquiry.

The messages, which covered his time as chancellor during the pandemic, had been wiped as Mr Sunak repeatedly changed phones, he claimed.

Labour MP Chris Bryant used the development to launch a stinging attack on the PM, asking: “What is worse: Losing your WhatsApp messages as a tech bro, losing £11.8bn to fraud as chancellor, presiding over the biggest fall in living standards in our history or desperately clinging onto power when you become even more unpopular than Boris Johnson?”

The PM said he was focused on “delivering for the British people”.

13:15 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain

Keir Starmer pays tribute to Mark Drakeford: ‘Titan of Welsh politics’

Tory minister takes brutal swipe at David Cameron over China

13:00 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain

A Conservative cabinet minister took a swipe at David Cameron over his past support for closer ties with China in the latest sign of Tory infighting.

Security minister Tom Tugendhat appeared to mock the changed stance by the foreign secretary – who once hailed a “golden era” of UK relations with Beijing while he was PM.

Mr Tugendhat – one of the Tory party’s leading “hawks” on the Chinese government – re-posted a Foreign Office tweet showing Lord Cameron with Sebastien Lai.

Tory minister takes brutal swipe at David Cameron over China

Mark Drakeford to stand down as Labour first minister of Wales

12:45 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain

The first minister of Wales Mark Drakeford has announced he is standing down as the country’s Labour leader – triggering a surprise winter contest to find his successor.

The 69-year-old Labour politician, who has been Welsh leader since December 2018, said he hoped his replacement could be in place before Easter 2024.

At a news conference in Cardiff, Mr Drakeford said he would remain as first minister until then “in the full sense of that job”.

Mark Drakeford to stand down as first minister of Wales

Starmer dubs Sunak ‘nativity donkey’ – and says Tories lack ‘wise men’

12:35 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain

Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer mocked Rishi Sunak over the Tory Christmas party.

“Apparently he’s holding a Christmas party next week ... how’s the invite list looking?”

He added: “They’ve obviously found the donkey for their nativity – the search for three wise men may take longer.”

Starmer accuses Tory backbenchers of ‘pretending to be members of the Mafia'

12:25 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain

Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer has accused Conservative backbenchers of “pretending to be members of the Mafia”.

Speaking in the Commons, Sir Keir said: “Nearly 140,000 children are going to be homeless this Christmas, that is more than ever before, that is a shocking state of affairs and it should shame this Government.

“Instead of more social housing, house building is set to collapse. Instead of banning no fault evictions, thousands of families are at risk of homelessness.

“Rather than indulge in his backbenchers swanning around in their factions and their star chambers pretending to be members of the Mafia, when is he going to get a grip and focus on the country?”

In response, Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said: “Rough sleeping in this country is down by 35% thanks to the efforts of this Government, hundreds of thousands of fewer children in poverty today thanks to this Government.

“And when it comes to home building again ... we just had the data this last week, within the last year an almost record number of new homes delivered, more than in any year of the last Labour government.”

12:24 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain

12:22 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain

Rishi Sunak was urged to find a better system of economic forecasting as a means of reducing the tax burden.

Greg Smith, Tory MP for Buckingham, told the Commons: “The tax cuts in the autumn statement were extremely welcome. But in order to go further and to get the tax burden as low as it possibly can be, accurate and robust economic modelling is required.

“The Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR) have been habitually wrong and we have the spectacle last week of the head of the OBR saying that his latest forecast might be £30 billion out. Will he commit to finding a better system of financial modelling so we can get taxes lower?”

The Prime Minister replied: “As he knows, the OBR has brought greater transparency and independence to the forecasting on which Government policy is based. But he is right and it is required to produce an assessment of its accuracy of its fiscal and economic forecast at least once a year.

“But crucially as he acknowledged thanks to our management of the economy, the fact that we have halved inflation, controlled borrowing, we now have delivered the largest tax cuts in a generation and they will benefit families up and down the country from January.”

Starmer mocks unity of Tory party at PMQs

12:19 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain

Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer mocked the unity of the Tory party at PMQs.

Sir Keir said: “Christmas is a time of peace on earth and goodwill to all - has anyone told the Tory Party?”

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said: “Christmas is also a time for families, and under the Conservatives we do have a record number of them.

“At the beginning of the year I set out some priorities that this Government would deliver for the British people, and over the course of this year we have.

“Inflation halved, the economy growing, debt falling, action on the longest (waiting lists), the boats down by a third, and crucially... tax cuts coming to help working families in the new year.”

‘Can the PM share his Christmas message to the children being bombed in Gaza?'

12:17 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain

SNP’s Stephen Flynn MP said: “Can the prime minister please share his Christmas message to the children being bombed in Gaza?”

He asked the PM to explain why the UK “shamefully abstained” from a ceasefire when hundreds of nations voted in favour.

Starmer calls on Tory MPs to raise hands if they called for PM to resign

12:07 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain

Labour’s Sir Keir Starmer calls on Tory MPs to put their hands up if they called Rishi Sunak a “bad politician” ahead of the Rwanda vote.

He continued to read anonymous quotes about the PM including: “He’s got to go... he’s inexperienced... etc.”

He added: “Apparently [the PM’s] holding a Christmas party next week. How’s the guest list looking?”

12:05 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain

Sir Keir Starmer begins by paying tribute to the young man who died on the Bibbi Stockholm barge.

Sunak begins PMQs

12:02 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain

Rishi Sunak has stood for his first PMQs since winning the Rwanda vote on Tuesday evening. Stay tuned while we keep you updated with the latest from today’s session.

11:52 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain

Watch live as Sunak faces Starmer at PMQs after winning Rwanda vote

11:35 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain

‘No one knows what you just said’: James Cleverly clashes with Ed Balls over Rwanda

Sunak’s popularity hits new low, poll suggests

11:30 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain

Rishi Sunak’s popularity appears to have hit an all-time low, according to a new poll by YouGov.

Asked in polling conducted ahead of the Commons vote, 70 per cent of Britons said they had an unfavourable opinion of Rishi Sunak, compared to only 21 per cent with a favourable view.

This gives the prime minister his lowest ever net favourability score of -49 – a ten point drop from late November.

Michael Gove ‘capitulating’ to nimbys with moves to block new homes, say developers

11:21 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain

Cabinet minister Michael Gove was accused of “capitulating” to nimby Tory MPs and campaigners after a fresh move to let councils reject housebuilding targets.

Local authorities will no longer have to earmark greenfield land for housing, under new changes to the planning system said to have been made by Mr Gove’s levelling up department.

Mr Gove will allow councils to slash the number of planned homes if development would significantly change the character of an area, according to The Times.

Adam Forrest reports:

Michael Gove ‘capitulating’ to nimbys by blocking new homes, say developers

Tory divisions ‘completely stupid’, says Tory MP

10:56 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain

Some Tory MPs who spoke in Commons Tuesday were not impressed by the flurry of meetings with the “five families” on Conservatives on the right.

Tory MP Jackie Doyle-Price, a former minister, said: “I really question how we have got into this ridiculous place this week where these benches are all falling out with each other over a small element of a bigger policy. It is completely stupid.”

Sir Edward Leigh added: “I hear of all these different groups. You know, a house divided is a house that is going to be destroyed. We have to work together. There is no other solution.”

Farage returns to UK warning Tories that Sunak faces ‘catastrophic’ defeat

10:37 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain

Rishi Sunak is heading for “catastrophic” defeat at the general election, Nigel Farage has predicted.

The former Brexit Party leader said it was “fascinating” that polling suggested he was more popular with Tory voters than the Prime Minister following his stint on I’m a Celebrity … Get Me Out of Here!

As he arrived back in the UK following his time in the jungle, Mr Farage said his popularity with Conservative voters was “very flattering” and it would “take some time” for him to decide on his next move.

He told the PA news agency that the Prime Minister’s battle with his own side to win Tuesday’s Commons vote on the Rwanda plan showed the difficulties Mr Sunak was in.

“This Government’s in desperate trouble, headed for catastrophic defeat,” he said.

Farage returns to UK warning Tories that Sunak faces ‘catastrophic’ defeat

Does the Tory right have the numbers to defeat Sunak?

10:25 , Adam Forrest

While there is scepticism about the number of MPs who will actually be willing to vote against the bill, a revolt by the 29 Tories who abstained could be enough to defeat the government.

The group of around 40 or so right-wingers who attended the “five families” meeting on Tuesday were said to be evenly split between abstaining or voting against.

Some right-wingers claim the 29 abstentions underestimate the number of potential rebels, unhappy with the bill, who could vote it down at the showdown third reading stage.-

Others think some who abstained will back the bill when it comes to the crunch. “Almost like the right are all talk,” one Tory moderate told Politico. “This was the moment of maximum leverage for opponents of the bill and the government rightly told them to f*** off,” another senior Tory MP who backed the bill told the FT.

10:05 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain

Watch live as Michelle Donelan grilled over AI regulation by select committee

Sunak in ‘last chance saloon’ with Rwanda policy, says Tory peer

09:51 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain

Tory peer Lord Greenhalgh, a key Boris Johnson ally, has warned his party that a failure to deport sufficient numbers of suspected illegal migrants to Rwanda would be “a disaster for the government.”

The right-winger told GB News: “This is the last chance saloon for these flights to take off before a general election. And I can’t say when but if this bill doesn’t pass, obviously it’s not going to happen this side of the election.”

The peer reiterated comments by ex-immigration Robert Jenrick, who said one or two “symbolic” Rwanda flights would not be good enough. Lord Greenhalgh said that it “we get a third plane that is empty, having spent many hundreds of millions on the policy … that will be electoral disaster for the Conservatives.”

Mark Harper says Sunak will ‘continue listening’ to Tory MPs about Rwanda Bill

09:31 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain

Transport Secretary Mark Harper said Prime Minister Rishi Sunak will “continue listening” to Conservative MPs about possible amendments to his Safety of Rwanda Bill.

He told LBC: “All Conservative MPs want to deal with this.

“We’ll continue listening to colleagues if colleagues have got ideas about how to strengthen the Bill and improve it consistent with international law and with keeping Rwanda onside, who’ve made it clear that they want us to stick with international law.

“There’s no point having a Bill without a partner country to send people to.

“So, within those constraints, we’ve made it very clear the Home Secretary and the Prime Minister will continue listening to colleagues, working with them.

“Conservative colleagues want to try and get this done, so that we can start removing people to Rwanda so we can break the back of those (people smuggling) groups. Labour has no plan at all.”

Could ‘One Nation’ Tories try to amend Rwanda bill?

09:11 , Adam Forrest

The One Nation moderate wing of the Tory party is assumed to be happy to keep supporting Rishi Sunak’s Rwanda bill – so long as he doesn’t toughen it up under pressure from the right.

But one senior Tory MP in the One Nation moderate wing of the party told The Times that they plan to bring forward a “wrecking” amendment in the new year.

They are said to hope that it will win backing from Labour, a move that could make life very difficult for Mr Sunak

Sunak must stick to ‘narrow landing strip’, says One Nation Tory leader

08:51 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain

Sunak must stick to ‘narrow landing strip’, says One Nation Tory leaderModerate Conservative MPs in the One Nation caucus agreed to back the bill this week – but have stressed that they will resist any amendments from the Tory right that would risk the UK breaching the rule of law.

Damian Green, the group’s chairman, told Newsnight the PM had secured a “pretty solid” majority for his proposal and that he hoped the “third reading would go through reasonably easily”.

“On today’s vote, the government has more or less managed the narrow landing strip that it is aiming at, and so it should stick to that landing strip,” the senior Tory moderate said.

UK heading for ‘clash’ with European judges over Rwanda bill, says Lord Sumption

08:41 , Adam Forrest

Former Supreme Court judge Lord Sumption predicted that there is likely to be a “clash” with European judges over the bill, something that would likely enrage Rishi Sunak’s Tory critics.

Lord Sumption told BBC’s Newsnight that the bill “is contrary to international law” because it seeks to “block people off from access to the courts”.

The senior legal figure – whom the government had claimed approved of the bill – added: “Sooner or later there may be a clash with the Strasbourg (European) Court of Human Rights.”

Tory rebels won’t kill our Rwanda bill in new year, home secretary insists

08:30 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain

Home secretary James Cleverly has claimed Tory rebels won’t kill Rishi Sunak’s Rwanda bill in the new year – insisting that the faction-riven party is still “united”.

The PM faces a January showdown over his flagship deportation legislation after right-wing Tory MPs threatened to vote it down if it is not toughed up.

Mr Sunak managed to survive a crunch first vote after spending the day in talks with potential rebels – with MPs approving the bill by 313 votes to 269.

Our political correspondent Adam Forrest reports:

Tory rebels won’t kill our Rwanda bill, James Cleverly insists

Cleverly will ‘harvest’ Tory right ideas to improve legislation

08:21 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain

James Cleverly suggested killing the Rwanda Bill is not “the best way” for potential rebels on the Tory right to act over concerns that the legislation is too weak.

Asked about European Research Group chairman Mark Francois’s objections of the legislation, the Home Secretary told Sky News: “I will talk to Mark and I’ll talk to others, of course, to understand their thinking on this and try to harvest their ideas to make things better.

“But I can’t see if someone’s got a concern that the Bill might not be as strong as they would like, killing the Bill doesn’t strike me as the best way of doing that, because if the Bill isn’t on the statute books it can’t possibly succeed.”

Mr Cleverly was asked about a YouGov poll suggesting only 1% of voters think the plan will work, to which he replied: “I’d like to prove them wrong. My job is to demonstrate this will work as part of an overall plan which is already working.”

Asked how long it would take before planes are taking off to Kigali, he said: “We’ve got to get this Bill through the House of Commons and the House of Lords. That will take some time.”

Home secretary denies Rwanda Bill will be killed next year

08:10 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain

James Cleverly denied that the Government’s Rwanda Bill would be killed next year.

When it was put to him that right-wing Conservatives would vote the legislation down, the Home Secretary told Sky News: “That’s your assertion, I don’t agree.

“It is part of, but not the only part, of a range of measures that we are taking.”

James Cleverly says it is ‘absolutely wrong’ to say a lot of Tories do not work the Rwanda Bill to work

07:56 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain

Home Secretary James Cleverly said it was “absolutely wrong” to say that a lot of Tories do not want the Government’s Rwanda Bill to work as he inisted the Conservative Party is “united” in its desire to get the legislation right.

He said: “We of course are more than willing to listen to good faith amendments that are designed to make the Bill better, keep it within the bounds of international law, keep it in a state that the Rwandans are happy to work with.”

Put to him that “a lot of Tories” do not want the legislation to work, he told Sky News: “No, this is absolutely wrong. The Conservative Party is united on the desire to get this right and to stop the boats.

“The Labour Party’s position is to try and wreck it.”

Tories look ‘ungovernable’, admits Tory MP

07:45 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain

Ben Bradley, the Conservative MP for Mansfield, suggested the Tories now appeared “ungovernable” after the Rwanda – where 29 colleagues refused to obey the whips by abstaining.

The right-winger, who backed the government, told BBC Newsnight: “We have been in government for 13 years. We have got a parliamentary party that has been built in all different directions, in different elections, by different leaders.

He added: “You might argue it’s kind of ungovernable. This situation suggests it’s certainly not easy to govern.”

Sunak seen hugging chief whip in relief

07:36 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain

Rishi Sunak was spotted hugging Simon Hart, the Tories’ chief whip, after the result of the Rwanda vote was read out.

The PM said: “The British people should decide who gets to come to this country, not criminal gangs or foreign courts. That’s what this bill delivers. We will now work to make it law so that we can get flights going to Rwanda and stop the boats.”

Sunak faces new year showdown with Tories over Rwanda policy after Commons win

07:18 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain

Rishi Sunak faces a new year showdown over his Rwanda deportation policy after right-wing Conservative MPs said they could vote emergency legislation down if it is not tightened.

The Prime Minister on Tuesday won a crunch vote on the Safety of Rwanda Bill after spending the day in talks with potential rebels to avoid a defeat on his flagship “stop the boats” pledge.

The efforts to bring people on side worked, with MPs approving the Bill at second reading by 313 votes to 269, giving the UK Government a winning majority of 44.

Sunak faces new year showdown with Tories over Rwanda policy after Commons win

Illegal migration minister commits to work with Jenrick on ‘need for legal certainty’ on Rwanda plan

07:00 , Tara Cobham

Illegal migration minister Michael Tomlinson has committed to working with Robert Jenrick on “the need for legal certainty” on the Government’s Rwanda plan.

Addressing the Conservative former immigration minister, Mr Tomlinson said he was “sorry” to see Mr Jenrick resign and added: “It is right to say, and I agree with him, that there is a disagreement between us, but it is a good faith disagreement, he was right when he said that and I agree with him.

“I agree with his point about the need for legal certainty and I commit to working with him on that very point.”

Asked elsewhere in his remarks for his view of how many people will be deported to Rwanda next year, Mr Tomlinson said: “It will start off in the hundreds and it will scale up to the thousands.”

Conservative MP Sir Bill Cash (Stone) asked: “Will (Mr Tomlinson) seek a ruling from Mr Speaker that the long title and the scope of the Bill will or may be amended to ensure that amendments may be moved and selected, at least by the Government, and even by backbenchers, as on previous occasions?”

Mr Tomlinson said: “I will continue to work with him on this. I will come back to his specific point and I will come back and address I hope his very concern.”

Is it time the Rwanda scheme was scrapped? Join the Independent Debate

06:00 , Tara Cobham

The Prime Minister has successfully defused a Tory revolt, following a crunch vote on his flagship migration policy.

The government’s new Rwanda bill would order British judges and courts to ignore some sections of the UK Human Rights Act to allow for the deportation of asylum seekers to the African country.

Under the plan, asylum seekers that arrive in Britain will be sent to Rwanda for processing where they could either be granted refugee status or allowed to stay.

Find out more here:

Tell us if it’s finally time the Rwanda scheme was scrapped

Watch the moment Sunak wins Rwanda vote despite right-wing Tory rebellion

05:00 , Tara Cobham

There were loud shouts of “aye” after Rishi Sunak’s Safety of Rwanda Bill passed its second reading on Tuesday, 12 December, in the House of Commons.

The prime minister’s new planned legislation would deem Rwanda safe in British law after the original bill was struck down as unlawful by the Supreme Court.

MPs approved the Safety of Rwanda Bill at its second reading by 313 votes to 269, majority 44.

Mr Sunak’s win came after five separate groups of right-wing Conservative MPs decided they could not support the Safety of Rwanda Bill at its second reading.

Holly Patrick reports:

Watch the moment Sunak wins Rwanda vote despite Tory rebellion

Rishi Sunak wins Rwanda vote as he staves off mass Tory rebellion – for now

04:00 , Tara Cobham

A wounded Rishi Sunak has secured victory in a crunch vote on his flagship Rwanda policy – but his political future remains under threat ahead of a new year showdown on the issue.

The prime minister faces another battle with his MPs within weeks after parliament backed his emergency legislation by 313 votes to 269.

As he fought to keep his controversial deportation scheme alive, Mr Sunak even flew a minister back from the Cop28 climate change conference in Dubai to vote.

Kate Devlin and Archie Mitchell report:

Rishi Sunak wins Rwanda vote as he staves off mass Tory rebellion – for now

In pictures: MPs approve Rwanda Bill

03:00 , Tara Cobham

Yvette Cooper calls for cross-party agreement on border enforcement

02:00 , Tara Cobham

Shadow home secretary Yvette Cooper called for a cross-party agreement on border enforcement.

Speaking after the Rwanda vote, she said: “We need both stronger border security and stronger action to fix the Tories’ asylum chaos that has got worse and worse over the last few years.

“We’ve seen, really, over the last few days the Tory Party civil war erupting, with different groups taking different lumps out of each other, and that chaos looks like it’s going to continue into the New Year as well.”

She said Labour will set up a new “returns unit” to remove people who do not have a right to be in the UK and stated the Tories had presided over a 50% drop in such returns.

Ms Cooper also set out plans to create an international security agreement to share information on people-smuggling networks.

She said: “We ought to have a cross-party agreement on some of these basic things like going after the gangs, clearing the backlog, and getting returns in place, getting proper enforcement in place, but they’re not capable of doing that because they’re too busy taking lumps out of each other – because they are more interested in their civil war than they are in actually tackling the problems, and in actually doing a fair deal for the country.”

Duncan Smith says he could always rescind backing after supporting bill

01:00 , Tara Cobham

Despite voting to support the Bill, former Tory leader Sir Iain Duncan Smith said he could always rescind his backing at a later date.

He said: “We always reserve the right to do what we have to do when we think it doesn’t work, my personal view is I want to see the Government listen and engage.

“Right now this was a very difficult Bill to get through, very contentious, it was the toughest bit of legislation concerning people’s rights, in terms of asylum seekers, that we’ve seen, and that’s because the crisis is big and many people are dying in the channel.

“It’s happening all over Europe – France is in defiance of the European court, sending people back.

“Denmark passed legislation to send people back, Sweden is doing the same, Germany is in turmoil, Italy is talking about defying the court – this is not just the UK.

“It’s part of the problem that all around Europe we’re facing, so this is the issue here on our island and we have to resolve it, otherwise it creates chaos.”

He said there were divisions in the Conservative Party: “Of course [there are divisions], but these divisions are about big issues and I think what the public want is a result at the end of this.

“They want something done – we made a pledge, Rishi Sunak made a pledge, to stop the boats, and we want to deliver it.”

Asked about Robert Jenrick resigning because he believed it it would not stop the boats, he said: “Well if you have five lawyers, you have 55 opinions.”

He added: “The Supreme Court made it very clear, they said once the Parliament makes clear their position in this then they will fall in line.”

Former Conservative Party leader Sir Iain Duncan Smith says he voted to support bill

00:00 , Tara Cobham

Former Conservative Party leader Sir Iain Duncan Smith said he voted to support the Rwanda Bill.

Speaking after the vote, he said the Bill was the “toughest” legislation on people’s rights to date.

He said: “I felt, first and foremost, we need to take this Bill through to further discussions and debate, and I think it’s considerably better than what was there before – it gives us a chance to see if we can get those flights off the ground and make sure we disincentivise the whole idea of those who have to pay under that terrible murderous business.

“We’re seeing whether or not there will be elements that can be tightened up.

“There are debates around here about certain clauses, where there may there be open possibilities for people to make continuous vexations claims.

“So, we need to look about whether it is feasible to tighten those places up, and there are some other bits about reference to Europe.

“I think the important things here is that colleagues want to try and get this through, so that we can get this flights off the ground and the Rwanda policy can act as a deterrent.”

‘Parliament has spoken,’ says Cleverly

Tuesday 12 December 2023 23:00 , Tara Cobham

Home Secretary James Cleverly said “Parliament has spoken” after Prime Minister Rishi Sunak won a crunch vote in the Commons over his emergency Rwanda legislation.

In a post to X, formerly Twitter, Mr Cleverly said: “Parliament has spoken.

“We must be able to choose who comes to our country – not criminal gangs.

“That’s what this Bill will deliver.”

Coffey says Sunak will be happy with winning Rwanda Bill vote

Tuesday 12 December 2023 22:00 , Tara Cobham

Therese Coffey said Rishi Sunak will be happy with winning the Rwanda Bill vote.

The MP for Suffolk Coastal said “the issue has become rather totemic” and added she wanted the Conservative Party to focus on “the criminal gangs pushing people across with false hope”.

Speaking after the vote, she said: “That was a solid vote. Rishi Sunak as Prime Minister should be very happy tonight.

“There’s a Bill, we can now get on with that Bill, clearly the Prime Minister has said he’s in a listening mode, wants to make it work.

“It was important to get the Bill through this stage today and I think a majority of 44, any Prime Minister would be proud of that, especially giving the tensions today.

“For the majority of people in this country, what they care about is the money in their pocket and economic growth.”

Asked what she would say to the rebel Tory groups who did not support the Bill, she said: “Just go through the detail carefully, and it’s important that the Government listens, and it’s important that people concerned about the legislation, on both ends of the political party, look at the details.”

Watch the moment Sunak wins Rwanda vote despite right-wing Tory rebellion

Tuesday 12 December 2023 21:15 , Tara Cobham

There were loud shouts of “aye” after Rishi Sunak’s Safety of Rwanda Bill passed its second reading on Tuesday, 12 December, in the House of Commons.

The prime minister’s new planned legislation would deem Rwanda safe in British law after the original bill was struck down as unlawful by the Supreme Court.

MPs approved the Safety of Rwanda Bill at its second reading by 313 votes to 269, majority 44.

Mr Sunak’s win came after five separate groups of right-wing Conservative MPs decided they could not support the Safety of Rwanda Bill at its second reading.

Holly Patrick reports:

Watch the moment Sunak wins Rwanda vote despite Tory rebellion

Is it time the Rwanda scheme was scrapped? Join the Independent Debate

Tuesday 12 December 2023 20:55 , Tara Cobham

The Prime Minister has successfully defused a Tory revolt, following a crunch vote on his flagship migration policy.

The government’s new Rwanda bill would order British judges and courts to ignore some sections of the UK Human Rights Act to allow for the deportation of asylum seekers to the African country.

Under the plan, asylum seekers that arrive in Britain will be sent to Rwanda for processing where they could either be granted refugee status or allowed to stay.

Find out more here:

Tell us if it’s finally time the Rwanda scheme was scrapped

Sunak tweets he will work to put emergency legislation into law

Tuesday 12 December 2023 20:35 , Tara Cobham

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak tweeted to say he will work to put his emergency legislation into law “so that we can get flights going to Rwanda and stop the boats” after winning a crunch vote in the Commons.

No Tory MP voted against giving Rwanda bill second reading

Tuesday 12 December 2023 20:15 , Tara Cobham

The division list showed no Conservative MPs voted against giving the Safety of Rwanda (Asylum and Immigration) Bill a second reading.

There were 38 Conservative MPs listed as having no vote recorded, although this does not automatically equate to an abstention.

The division list released by the Commons authorities listed 307 Tory MPs as voting for the Bill along with five independent MPs, including Peter Bone (Wellingborough).

The number is one short of the 313 announced in the chamber, but updates to the list can occur.

There have been occasions where an MP’s vote has not registered on the pass reader system and they are added to the relevant list later – moving from the no vote recorded column.

Rishi Sunak wins Rwanda vote as he staves off mass Tory rebellion - for now

Tuesday 12 December 2023 19:55 , Tara Cobham

A wounded Rishi Sunak has scraped victory in a crunch vote on his flagship Rwanda policy - but his political future remains under threat ahead of a new year showdown on the issue.

The prime minister faces another battle with his own MPs within weeks after parliament backed his emergency legislation by 313 votes to 269.

As he fought to keep his controversial deportation scheme alive, Mr Sunak even flew a minister in from the Cop 28 climate change conference in Dubai to vote.

Kate Devlin and Archie Mitchell report:

Rishi Sunak wins Rwanda vote as he staves off mass Tory rebellion - for now

Watch: Rishi Sunak wins Rwanda vote after Tory rebellion

Tuesday 12 December 2023 19:36 , Tara Cobham

Government wins Rwanda Bill vote

Tuesday 12 December 2023 19:30 , Tara Cobham

The government has won the vote as MPs approved the Safety of Rwanda Bill at second reading by 313 votes to 269, majority 44.

Goverment wins on first vote on Labour amendment

Tuesday 12 December 2023 19:17 , Tara Cobham

The government has won on the first vote as Labour’s bid to block the Safety of Rwanda (Asylum and Immigration) Bill at second reading was rejected by 337 votes to 269, majority 68.

MPs are now voting on the original motion, which is to decide whether or not to give the Bill a second reading.

Critics ‘will not back’ Sunak’s Rwanda Bill after meeting in Westminster

Tuesday 12 December 2023 19:12 , Tara Cobham

Tory MPs demanding tougher legislation on the Rwanda plan have decided they will not back the bill after meeting in Westminster as Rishi Sunak faces a test of his authority.

The Prime Minister has been working to avert a rebellion but he faces resistance from the Tory right, with MPs calling for changes to the Safety of Rwanda Bill – which faces its first Commons test on Tuesday night.

Tories from the European Research Group (ERG) and four other factions were meeting in a Parliamentary committee room to decide on their next steps.

David Hughes reports:

Critics of Sunak’s Rwanda Bill meet in Westminster to consider next moves

Rwanda has made ‘utter mugs’ of ‘chaotic' government, according to SNP MP Wishart

Tuesday 12 December 2023 19:00 , Tara Cobham

Rwanda has made “utter mugs” of the “chaotic” UK Government, according to SNP MP Pete Wishart (Perth and North Perthshire).

He told the Commons: “Hasn’t Rwanda played an absolute blinder? They must have seen them coming from thousands of miles away, soliciting hundreds of millions of pounds from this Government and apparently they’re going to get another £100 million more.

“They’ve done all this without taking one single deportee. Go Rwanda, you have made utter mugs of this chaotic Government across the road.”

Mr Wishart said the Safety of Rwanda (Asylum and Immigration) Bill might be the piece of legislation that “brings down” the Government, adding: “What a hill to die on – an obsession with immigration, an obsession with stopping these small boats, and by God they deserve to be brought down.”

He went on: “Scotland rejects this. My constituents want nothing to do with this. I will proudly and defiantly be voting against this this evening and that will be in the name of the people I represent … what a disgraceful Bill, what an appalling piece of legislation, it deserves to be shoved right in the furthest bin from the furthest corner of this country.”

Five separate groups of right-wing Tories ‘cannot back Bill’

Tuesday 12 December 2023 18:55 , Tara Cobham

Five separate groups of right-wing Conservative MPs have decided they cannot support the Safety of Rwanda Bill at second reading on Tuesday, Mark Francois MP has said on their behalf.

Conservative former Home Office minister Kevin Foster gives backing to Bill

Tuesday 12 December 2023 18:48 , Tara Cobham

Kevin Foster, a Conservative former Home Office minister, gave his backing to the Bill.

“I do think this Bill does need to get a second reading. There are clearly points of detail that we can explore at committee,” the MP for Torbay said.

Mr Foster added that he had questions about clause four of the Bill on decisions about individual circumstances, addressing immigration minister Michael Tomlinson as he said: “Where is the evidence threshold going to be? It will be particularly interesting to hear, particularly given his former role as solicitor general, his experience in front of the courts directly, where he believes the courts may draw the line for interim relief?”

Duncan Baker, the Tory MP for North Norfolk, said: “I will support this Bill this evening, because it is a fundamental right that a country must be able to protect its borders, and as a basic it should know who is entering the country, and even more so if they are trying to do it illegally.

“I support the Bill because we simply cannot rest on our laurels with the current action we have taken, as positive as that already is.”

Immigration has turned Doncaster into a ‘ghetto’, Tory MP says

Tuesday 12 December 2023 18:40 , Tara Cobham

Immigration has turned Doncaster into a “ghetto”, a Conservative MP has said.

Speaking in the Commons, Don Valley MP Nick Fletcher said: “I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, Doncaster is full.”

He added: “We are turning parts of our community into a ghetto.”

Mr Fletcher said people “don’t expect to be called racist or xenophobic for saying ‘we liked it as it was’, and if we’re going to have immigration, which I don’t completely believe is a bad thing to do, it just needs to be controlled immigration”.

Mr Fletcher said he would be back the Bill but added: “We’ve got friends on this side of the House who want this Bill stronger and I’m going to work with them, and I’m hopefully going to work with you because we must make this work, we have to stop the boats.”

Strengthening Bill’s measures risks undermining UK standing in world, says Tory backbencher

Tuesday 12 December 2023 18:20 , Tara Cobham

Strengthening the Bill’s measures further risks undermining the UK’s standing in the world, a Tory backbencher told the Commons.

Conservative MP Matt Warman (Boston and Skegness) said: “I welcome the fact that it is doing something novel, but I am uncomfortable in that position, because what this Bill does is to go up to the line of international law, and international law is important.”

He added: “(International law) is the foundation upon which we are able to do the deals with other countries, for instance Albania, France, Italy, that allow us to tackle illegal migration.

“Because Rwanda cannot be the only thing that we do, Rwanda has to be, if it is to happen, a part of a meaningful package of measures. If we go so far in one direction to try and ensure that flights to Rwanda take off, we will knock out other important parts of the deal that we need to do.”

He said his party needs to be “careful about walking a tightrope”, saying: “If we try and go further the risk is not just that we undermine our whole approach to tackling this issue with a multi-pronged approach, it also risks simply undermining Britain’s whole standing in the world – so we will have a policy that won’t work and a country that is less than where we started.”

He added: “I find myself voting for this Bill this evening not with huge enthusiasm for anything other than the concept of addressing a problem that we have a moral duty to address.”

Watch live: MPs vote on Sunak’s emergency Rwanda bill

Tuesday 12 December 2023 18:00 , Tara Cobham

Watch live as MPs vote on Prime Minister Rishi Sunak’s emergency Rwanda legislation on Tuesday, 12 December.

The Prime Minister is attempting to defuse a Tory revolt, as there stands significant division on both sides of the Conservative Party over the bill.

Some on the right of the party want a tougher law, while those towards the left have warned against the bill breaching international law in the future.

Watch live here:

Watch live: MPs vote on Sunak’s emergency Rwanda bill

Senior Tories urge colleagues to cease internal hostilities and back Bill

Tuesday 12 December 2023 17:40 , Tara Cobham

Senior Tories have urged their colleagues to cease internal hostilities and back the Bill.

Conservative former minister Sir Edward Leigh said: “The Conservative Party, I hear of all these different groups. You know, a house divided is a house that is going to be destroyed. We have to work together. There is no other solution.”

The Gainsborough MP suggested his party should make leaving the European Convention on Human Rights a manifesto pledge at the next election to satisfy calls from the Tory right, adding: “Meanwhile, this Bill probably goes just about as far as we can do. I am sorry, but that is all we can get through Parliament and we have to be realistic.”

Conservative former minister Jackie Doyle-Price said she had never been an “enthusiastic supporter” of the Rwanda plan but was happy to support the Bill, adding: “I really question how we have got into this ridiculous place this week where these benches are all falling out with each other over a small element of a bigger policy. It is completely stupid. The only people who benefit are the benches opposite.

“For those people who are prepared to give them a victory tonight, well, good luck to you. That is great. But some of us are actually more intent on delivering the outcome, which is stopping the boats and breaking the criminal gangs who profit from other people’s misery.”

Clive Efford, Labour MP for Eltham, commented on the differences between Tory factions, telling the Commons: “That gangway has never seemed so wide. It seems to be the equivalent of the Berlin Wall for the left and right of the Conservative Party.”

Rwanda Bill is ‘inoperable and ineffective’ without amendments, says Tory MP

Tuesday 12 December 2023 17:20 , Tara Cobham

The Rwanda Bill is “inoperable and ineffective” without amendments, a Conservative MP has said.

Speaking in the Commons, deputy ERG chairman David Jones said: “I believe that this Bill does require amendments and what I’m inviting my honourable friend the minister to say when he winds up this evening is that the Government is open to amendments.”

The MP for Clwyd West added: “At the moment, there are numerous deficiencies that have been identified in the report of the so-called star chamber that will, I believe, render this Bill inoperable and ineffective.

“The last thing we want to do as a House is to expend a lot of time and a lot of agony over putting in place a Bill that doesn’t result in the flights to Rwanda and the deterrence that we need to illegal migrants.

“I do hope that my honourable friend will respond positively to this suggestion when he winds up, I know there’s a lot of colleagues (who) are going to listen very carefully to what he’s got to say, and I think that they will welcome what may well be regarded as a change of tone on the part of the Government.”

Labour MP Stella Creasy (Walthamstow) accused the Government of taking a “Vicky Pollard approach to making legislation”.

She added: “You cannot amend yourself out of this challenge without one side of Tweedledum and one side of Tweedledee arguing any more, this is a mess.”

In pictures: Crunch debate on Rwanda Bill underway in Commons

Tuesday 12 December 2023 17:00 , Tara Cobham

Kruger urges Government to ‘pull’ Bill as he says he cannot support it

Tuesday 12 December 2023 16:42 , Tara Cobham

Conservative MP Danny Kruger (Devizes) told the Commons: “I regret we’ve got an unsatisfactory Bill, I can’t undertake to support it tonight, I hope the Government would agree to pull the Bill and allow us to work with them and colleagues across the House to produce a better Bill – one that respects parliamentary sovereignty and also satisfies the very legitimate concerns of colleagues about vulnerable individuals.

“I think we can do better on safe and legal routes, for instance. We should be working together with other countries to design a system that respects the sovereignty of Parliament and the legitimate rule of independent nations.”

Mr Kruger earlier said he is not calling for the UK “at this stage” to depart from the European Convention on Human Rights, adding: “If the European Court were to disagree with the actions of the Government and they issued a substantive ruling to that effect, then we begin a process of conversation with them about that and we decide how exactly we might comply or, if we have to, depart.”

Conservative MP Natalie Elphicke (Dover) said she believes the Bill “in its current form” will not change the Supreme Court view that Rwanda is not acceptable.

Sunak willing to listen to MPs’ suggestions regarding Bill after vote, suggests No 10

Tuesday 12 December 2023 16:20 , Tara Cobham

Rishi Sunak is willing to listen to suggestions put forward by MPs regarding the Safety of Rwanda Bill after Tuesday evening’s second reading vote, No 10 has suggested.

The Prime Minister’s official spokesman said the UK Government needed to be “mindful” of the Rwandan government collapsing the asylum seeker scheme if it became uncomfortable with the Bill’s direction, following calls from right-wing Conservative MPs for the legislation to be tightened.

Asked whether the current Bill is at the limits of what Kigali would accept, Mr Sunak’s spokesman said: “The Rwandan government’s position is in relation to the international law elements.

“There are other aspects of the Bill that don’t relate purely to that, so I’m not going to rule out considering any further suggestions that MPs may make or have made.

“Those conversations are ongoing.”

He said the Government’s focus was on ensuring the Bill passed a vote in the Commons on Tuesday.

‘Government deserve credit for trying to deliver promises on boats,’ says Burns on supporting Bill

Tuesday 12 December 2023 16:13 , Tara Cobham

Conservative former minister Sir Conor Burns told the Commons: “I will support the Government today because I think the Government deserve credit for attempting to try and deliver their promises to the British people on the boats.

“We are seeing far too many people coming in here without the necessary checks who are then doing things in this country that are deeply unwelcome.”

He cited the killing of one of his constituents by an asylum seeker, and having argued that both parties have pledged to address the issue of illegal immigration, said: “We have got to be straight with the British people, if we say we are going to do something we have got to do it, and we’ve got to try every means at our disposal to deliver directly for the British people.”

Conservative former home secretary Dame Priti Patel told the Commons: “There have been measures that have passed through this House, including the Nationality and Borders Act where measures have not been implemented … which actually would save the courts a lot of time and effort.”

She added: “It’s really important ,… that we press upon on the Government now to go backwards to go forwards, to bring in these measures that have been passed through Acts of Parliament already and, dare I say it, there may be some in the legislation that’s come since.”

Chris Bryant lays bare five reasons to vote against Rishi Sunak’s Rwanda plan

Tuesday 12 December 2023 16:10 , Tara Cobham

Sir Chris Bryant laid out five reasons he believed were why MPs should vote against Rishi Sunak‘s Rwanda bill during a debate in the House of Commons on Tuesday, 11 December.

The Labour MP for Rhondda described the emergency legislation as “laughable” and said it “seeks to reverse a finding of fact by the highest court in the land.”

The prime minister published new planned legislation, entitled the Safety of Rwanda Bill, which would deem Rwanda safe in British law after the original bill was struck down as unlawful by the Supreme Court.

A vote on the bill was scheduled for 7pm on Tuesday.

Holly Patrick reports:

Chris Bryant lays bare five reasons to vote against Rishi Sunak’s Rwanda plan

Buckland says he would withdraw support for Bill in future if it is amended

Tuesday 12 December 2023 16:06 , Tara Cobham

Sir Robert Buckland said he would withdraw support for the Bill in future if it is amended to invite “courts to come on up if you are hard enough”.

The Tory former justice secretary told the Commons: “The principle of comity is one that we can ill afford to overlook. What do I mean by that? Well, I mean that mutual respect that has to exist between the different arms of the constitution. This place is sovereign, we derive our sovereignty from the people, but we also have a responsibility to use that in a responsible way.”

Sir Robert added: “I am the first one, the first person, to assert the authority of this place. But what I won’t do, what I won’t be a party to, is legislation that in effect invites the courts to come on up if you are hard enough. That is not the approach that we as responsible Conservatives should take.”

He went on: “If this Bill is to be amended in a way that crosses that line, then I cannot support that, and I will not support that.”

Labour former minister Sir Chris Bryant, meanwhile, claimed the Bill “creates a legal fiction”.

He said: “According to the Bill, Rwanda is safe even if it isn’t safe simply because the Government, through the Bill, says it is safe. But declaring somewhere safe doesn’t make it of itself safe. You can no more change reality by law or legal dictate than you can by mere imagination.”

Sir Bob Neill says he would vote for Bill but not support in future if changes from Tory right accepted

Tuesday 12 December 2023 15:53 , Tara Cobham

Sir Bob Neill, the Conservative chairman of the Commons’ justice committee, said he would vote for the Bill, but would not support it in future if changes from the Tory right were accepted.

Bromley and Chislehurst MP Sir Bob told MPs: “After a good deal of hesitation I shall support this Bill tonight, but it is a hesitation that has been real, because for me it goes as close to the wind as one can constitutionally do.”

He added: “It is a novel and unusual approach. We are dealing with an unusual and pressing situation. Therefore, I think straining of the sinews of what is acceptable can just be justified, but equally the idea that legislation is the sole or even the principal solution to this is, I think, wrong.”

Sir Bob went on: “If it were to change and any of the safeguards that have been left in to be removed, then my support would go, because some people would then have pushed it over the line into the unacceptable and, in my judgment, the unconservative, and then I would not support it.

“I don’t believe that is the Government’s intention, so I will help them to get the Bill through tonight, but they must be wary of some who do not have the best of objectives towards the Government’s policy who might take it in the wrong direction. Let’s not get there.”

Later, as Labour former minister Sir Chris Bryant mentioned amendments by Tory grandee Sir Bill Cash as the source of Sir Bob’s concerns, he could be seen nodding in agreement.

Watch: Chris Bryant lays bare five reasons to vote against Rishi Sunak’s Rwanda plan

Tuesday 12 December 2023 15:36 , Tara Cobham

Yvette Cooper likens Rishi Sunak to a Christmas turkey during debate

Tuesday 12 December 2023 15:27 , Tara Cobham

Yvette Cooper took a Christmas-themed jab at Prime Minister Rishi Sunak today in the House of Commons (12 December).

The Shadow Home Secretary was speaking during the debate on the Rwanda bill when she called Mr Sunak weak in regards to his immigration plan.

She then likened him to a Christmas turkey, prompting laughs from those around her.

“He’s hoping his party is going to calm down over Christmas... but they all know who the Christmas turkey is and he’s sitting in Number 10,” taunted the Labour MP.

Rhys Jones reports:

Yvette Cooper likens Rishi Sunak to a Christmas turkey during debate

Bill would ‘collapse’ if right of individuals to access court removed, advises Cox

Tuesday 12 December 2023 15:20 , Tara Cobham

Conservative former attorney general Sir Geoffrey Cox has advised colleagues that the Bill would “collapse” if they removed the right of individuals to access a court.

Sir Geoffrey told the Commons: “This Bill carefully preserves the right of individuals to come to court in extreme cases of individual justice.”

He added: “We cannot sacrifice the principle of access to a court. If we eliminate it entirely, not only would this Bill collapse because it will be interminably impeded in the House of Lords, it will probably lead to the Rwandan government withdrawing and it’s conceivable the courts themselves may entertain for the first time a complex challenge of the right of this Parliament to do away with fundamental constitutional principles, such as access to a court.”

Sir Geoffrey added to colleagues: “I understand the frustration and the deep and intense dissatisfaction at the current situation, I share it, I think there are tightenings that we can do, particularly on rule 39.

“But on the preservation of the right to go to court in an extreme case, I say that is part of the British constitution that our fathers and our party has supported, and fought for for generations, and it’d be wrong for us to compromise on it.”

Conservative MP Sir Bill Cash (Stone) earlier said: “We want the Government to succeed in its legislation but it has to be legislation that works.”

Sir Bill said there is a need to have a debate about the relationship between international law and parliamentary sovereignty.

Jenrick suggests he resigned due to concerns over responsibility to ‘protect our borders’

Tuesday 12 December 2023 15:13 , Tara Cobham

Robert Jenrick claimed it was a difficult decision to resign as immigration minister, and suggested it was his concerns over the responsibility to “protect our borders” which made him act.

As he began his first Commons speech since resigning from the Government, the Tory former minister said: “The decision to leave office is always a difficult one. The decision to disagree with the Prime Minister, someone who I want to support in good times and bad, is always a difficult one.

“But politicians are sent here to make difficult decisions. No one is forced to be a minister, and with high office comes responsibility – and no responsibility is greater than that to protect our borders and to secure us from untold damage as a result of mass illegal migration.”

He said the Government had made “huge progress as a country over the last year” on tackling mass migration, adding: “The plan that the Prime Minister set out a year ago is working. It is the most comprehensive plan of any European country and we just heard from the Opposition that they have no plan at all.

“They said that even if the Rwanda scheme was working, even if it was having the deterrent effect that we all want, they would still scrap it, because ultimately they don’t believe in border security and they cannot be trusted to protect our brooders.

“But this problem isn’t going away, this is going to be one of the defining issues of the 21st century. There are millions of people on the move.”

Suspended Tory MP Peter Bone is back in parliament

Tuesday 12 December 2023 15:01 , Tara Cobham

Peter Bone, who lost the Tory whip and was banned from parliament for six weeks for indecently exposing himself to a staffer, has come to parliament for the second reading of the Rwanda bill.

As Rishi Sunak launched a desperate push to get his emergency legislation over the line and save his premiership, Mr Bone was spotted driving into the parliamentary estate.

He has not had the Tory whip restored since the parliamentary commissioner for standards upheld five allegations of bullying and one of sexual misconduct.

Mr Sunak needs every vote he can get to ensure the bill has enough support.

Former immigration minister Jenrick to vote against bill – unless government agrees to amend it

Tuesday 12 December 2023 15:00 , Kate Devlin, Politics and Whitehall Editor

Rebel Tory are watching closely to see how former immigration minister Robert Jenrick votes tonight.

He quit over the Rwanda bill last week, warning it would not work.

I understand he plans to vote against the bill unless the government commits to amending it.

In the Commons earlier he told MPs: "This bill could be so much better, let's make it better. Let's make it work."

Small boat arrivals will rise ‘for many years to come’ without Rwanda plan, says Jenrick

Tuesday 12 December 2023 14:56 , Tara Cobham

The number of small boat arrivals in the UK will rise “for many years to come” unless the Rwanda plan is properly carried out, Robert Jenrick told the Commons.

The former immigration minister described the argument among his colleagues on the Tory benches over the plan as a “good faith disagreement”.

He added: “There are good people on both sides of this House and certainly within my party who have disagreements about how we can make this policy work.

“But my point of view is this, when untold damage is being done to our country, when this issue will be with us for years if not decades to come, where if we do not operationalise this policy correctly, we will see the numbers rise, and we will see them rise for many years to come.

“If, God forbid, there was a Labour government, there would be a decade of small boat arrivals. I want to stop that.”

Rebels warned of ‘consequences’ if they vote against Rishi Sunak’s plan

Tuesday 12 December 2023 14:51 , Archie Mitchell, Political Correspondent

Tory rebels have been warned not to vote against Rishi Sunak’s deal or there will be “consequences”, it has emerged.

Those considering opposing the PM’s plan could lose the Conservative Party whip, The Sun’s political editor Harry Cole reported.