Rishi Sunak WINS crunch vote on Rwanda as Tory rebellion fizzles out – marking huge boost for PM’s migration plan
RISHI Sunak last night won a make-or-break vote on his Rwanda plan as a Tory revolt fizzled out.
Most of the 60 right-wingers vowing to oppose the PM reluctantly agreed to back him rather than join Labour to torpedo the flagship migration plan.
The Bill passed by 320 to 276, a majority of 44.
This morning the PM will address the nation and urge the House of Lords not to meddle with the Bill.
After days of Tory hardliners demanding the Bill be toughened up to prevent legal challenges to removal flights, Mr Sunak’s gamble paid off.
Which Tory MPs voted against the Bill?
- Suella Braverman
- Sir Bill Cash
- Miriam Cates
- Sir Simon Clarke
- Sarah Dines
- Sir James Duddridge
- Mark Francois
- Dame Andrea Jenkyns
- Robert Jenrick
- David Jones
- Danny Kruger
The PM emerged having made few concessions to the rebels, except for pledges to defy activist European judges — and to issue guidance reminding civil servants they do not have the power to block ministers from over-ruling the judges.
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Only 11 Tory MPs, including former Home Secretary Suella Braverman and former Immigration Minister Robert Jenrick, voted against the Bill, which seeks to salvage the scheme following the Supreme Court defeat by declaring Rwanda a “safe” country.
Rebel sources said they were still furious with No10 for ignoring their demands and vowed to challenge any attempt by peers to water down the legislation.
Earlier, Downing Street appealed to wavering MPs to back the PM.
Mr Sunak’s press secretary said: “We are unified in our position in wanting to stop the boats, so we encourage them all to get behind this Bill so we can get this deterrent up and running.”
Tory MP Bob Seely warned colleagues they faced electoral suicide if they derailed the plan.
He told MPs: “We kill the Bill tonight, we can all go and look for new jobs.”
At his weekly PMQs, Mr Sunak vowed he would “get a grip” of the small boats crisis.
He added: “I have absolute conviction that the plan we’ve put in place will work.”
Mr Sunak still hopes to get the first deportation flights off the ground in the spring.
What does the win mean for Rishi?
RISHI Sunak has seen off a dangerous Tory rebellion over his Rwanda bill.
The bill is meant to block legal challenges to the PM's plan to send asylum seekers to the east African country.
Hardline Tory MPs rallied against the bill, which they thought was not tough enough.
More than 60 backbenchers defied the whip yesterday - only to cave in tonight when voting for the bill as a whole.
It seems they decided that blocking the bill risked bringing down Rishi just as the Tories languish 27 points behind Labour in an election year.
The bill will now go to the Lords, where the government does not have a majority.
Peers will probably try to change the bill over fears it breaks international law.
If they amend it, the bill will be returned to the Commons for approval by MPs.
Critics of the Rwanda plan say asylum seekers should be processed on dry land to stop them crossing the Channel in dangerous small boats.
Mayor of London Sadiq Khan said the plan is 'cruel, inhumane and unworkable'.
Scotland's First Minister Humza Yousaf called the bill the 'most repugnant piece of legislation in recent history'.
But right-wing Tory MPs have vowed to oppose any attempt by peers to water the bill down.
Meanwhile Rwanda's President Paul Kagame said he would return money to the UK if no migrants are sent to his country.
The UK has paid £240m to Kigali, with an extra £50m to come, but no asylum seeker has been sent to the East African nation.
Asked why he was taking the funds, Mr Kagame said: "It's only going to be used if those people will come. If they don't come, we can return the money."
A spokeswoman for the Rwandan Government, Yolande Makolo, later clarified Rwanda has "no obligation" to return any of the funds but that if the UK requests a refund they would "consider" it.