Tory rebel MPs mass abstain on Rwanda bill in stay of execution for PM
TORY rebels have announced they will abstain on the controversial Rwanda scheme, granting embattled Rishi Sunak a stay of execution.
The right-wingers backed down minutes before the crunch vote was called in the Commons chamber.
But the PM will only be able to breathe a short sign of relief as the so-called "Five Families" of Tory right-wing groups warned they would vote against the Bill at third reading in January if they fail to amend it.
The defiant PM today made a last-ditch plea for wavering MPs to back his immigration legislation, which was hanging on a knife-edge.
According to right-wing MPs Mr Sunak's enforcers had also threatened to strip them of the party whip for voting against the Bill tonight.
But after The Sun first revealed the threat, leading hardliner Sir Bill Cash is understood to have erupted at Chief Whip Simon Hart, who was forced to withdraw the ultimatum.
In an appeal to wavering backbenchers this morning, the PM said: "To stop the boats, we need to back this bill."
It sets up a high-stakes night in Westminster as the PM's career-defining Rwanda plan goes down to the wire in a Commons showdown.
As tensions mounted:
- Downing Street embarked on a huge push to get MPs on board ahead of the 7pm vote
- The "Five Families" of Tory right-wing groups were due to meet at 5.15pm to decide their course of action
- A climate minister was summoned back from the COP summit in Dubai to vote tonight - and will jet back after
- Home Secretary James Cleverly told MPs that "Rwanda stands ready" to help solve the migrant crisis
- Centrist Tories warned against any changes that risk breaching international law
- Sir Keir Starmer said the Tories were "fighting like rats in a sack"
Mr Sunak needs to stop 29 MPs rebelling, or 53 abstaining, as that would torpedo the plan.
Right-wingers say the new deportation law is too weak and full of loopholes and they will not back it without “major surgery”.
But left-wing Conservatives last night said they would only vote for the bill this evening as long as it is not hardened later down the parliamentary process.
At a bacon butty breakfast this morning Mr Sunak told hardliners that his emergency Rwanda Bill WILL get flights off the ground.
Following the dawn breakfast summit No10 source said: "It was a very useful meeting to hear MPs thoughts and discuss their concerns. The bill has been drafted with close attention to detail, with colleagues input helping to shape the legislation.
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“The tests set for the bill have been met and we will continue to listen to and engage with colleagues across the party as it passes through parliament. This bill will work and will do what we need it to do."
Yet one of the plotters hit back: "Playing chicken is never a good idea. No10 need make an offer this afternoon on delivering a bill that actually stops the boats.
"A lot more than 29 colleagues are angry, even if an abstention is worth a half a vote."
It sets up make-or-break day for Mr Sunak who has staked his premiership on salvaging the policy and getting flights off the ground.
Home Secretary James Cleverly opened the debate this afternoon ahead of tonight's vote due around 7pm.
With the PM nodding alongside, he said: "Rwanda stands ready, stands ready to welcome those new arrivals.
"They stand ready, they stand ready, to find a solution, to work with us to find a solution, on this global issue, rather than being part of a problem.
"And for that, I believe they should get our thanks and admiration. This is an innovative and humane solution to a growing global problem."
In a sign of how tight the vote is expected to be, climate minister Graham Stuart has been summoned back from the COP summit in Dubai - and will fly back to the Gulf after the result.
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The PM said he will not pull the legislation but is open to considering amendments within the framework of the Bill.
But he does not have much wriggle room as the One Nation caucus of Tory centrists will not accept any hardening.
Senior Tory Bob Neill today said the Rwanda plan sails "as close to the wind" as can be possible.
In the Commons he warned Mr Sunak "must be wary of some who do not have the best of objectives" for the Rwanda Bill.
In his first major intervention since resigning as Defence Secretary, Ben Wallace urged colleagues to back to the Bill rather than "wreck" the government.
The plan is on a knife-edge after right-wing Tories gave it the thumbs down yesterday.
A “Star Chamber” of lawyers acting for hardline MPs said the legislation was a “partial and incomplete solution” to stopping future removals being thwarted in the courts.
This morning new Illegal migration minister Michael Tomlinson insisted he was "very much in listening mode" as he refused to call critics troublemakers.
He told Sky News: "They're not pesky rebels. They are respected colleagues who I have worked with.
"I knew the desire of colleagues right across the breadth of our broad church in the parliamentary party. What do they want? They want this Bill to work.
"The way I'm going to help to persuade them to support the Bill and to support us as we pass the Bill through Parliament is to help show that the Bill is actually going to work, because that's what we all want."
Mr Tomlinson added: We all want this legislation to work. And that is what I'm determined to do."
Last night Downing Street hit back at critics by publishing their legal advice which makes clear breaking international law would be "alien to the UK's constitutional tradition of liberty and justice".
And writing in The , Mr Wallace said: "Before anyone in my party thinks the solution to this… is to wreck the government, perhaps we should calmly state that we are heading in the right direction and making progress.
"Yes, we lost before the courts, but just like any government before us, we have addressed the issues and I am confident that, as long as Labour doesn’t use the unelected House of Lords to derail the scheme, there is a good chance the return programme will progress."
Five Conservative caucuses on the right of the party demanded the PM hardens up the Bill ahead of the first Commons showdown tonight.
Downing Street has so far been adamant any toughening would see Rwanda pull out of the flagship removal scheme and spell curtains for the plan.
The Star Chamber gave its verdict at a meeting of like minded Tory factions this afternoon: the European Research Group, the Common Sense Group, the New Conservatives, the Northern Research Group and the Conservative Growth Group.
Dubbed the “Five Families”, they have enough members to kill Mr Sunak’s Rwanda Bill in the Commons tonight when the legislation has its “second reading”.
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The last time a government was defeated at second reading - where MPs vote on the principle of the proposals - was in 1986, and a repeat would spark a crisis for the PM.
Mr Sunak needs to stop 29 MPs rebelling, or 53 abstaining, as that would torpedo the plan.