Rishi Sunak has been warned the Conservatives “could be out of power forever” as the crunch debate on his Rwanda bill begins.
Speaking to Times Radio, former Tory leader Lord William Hague said that MPs “picking holes” in the prime minister’s plan rather than uniting ahead of the key vote tonight “have only got opposition to look forward to”.
Home Secretary James Cleverly opened the Commons debate on the bill, which would designate Rwanda as a safe country for asylum seekers and be voted on at 7pm.
The bid for Mr Sunak’s latest plan to “stop the boats” comes as it was confirmed that an asylum seeker died on the Bibby Stockholm barge, the accommodation used by the government to house migrants.
The prime minister is facing a potential rebellion from warring factions of his party over the bill and hosted an emergency breakfast in Downing Street with rebels in an attempt to convince them to vote for the bill.
Right-wing Conservatives are set to hold a joint meeting tonight to discuss the vote – but there is an increasing belief among Tory rebels that Mr Sunak’s bill will be successful.
Rebels warned of ‘consequences’ if they vote against Rishi Sunak’s plan
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.
Watch: Cleverly promises investigation after asylum seeker dies on Bibby Stockholm
Jenrick: ‘The test of this policy is, “Will it work?”’
Conservative former immigration minister Robert Jenrick told the Commons: “This is not a bad Bill but it is not the best Bill. I want this Bill to work.
“The test of this policy is not ‘is it the strongest Bill we’ve done?’, it’s not ‘is it a good compromise?’, it’s ‘will it work?’.
“That is all the public care about. They don’t care about Rwanda as a scheme, they care about stopping the boats. And we are sent here to do that for them.
“I will never elevate contested notions of international law over the interests of my constituents, over vital national interests like national security, like border security.
“This Bill could be so much better, let’s make it better. Let’s make it work.”
Cleverly promises investigation after asylum seeker dies on Bibby Stockholm
The home secretary told MPs in the House of Commons: “Tragically, there has been (a) death on the Bibby Stockholm barge. I’m sure that the thoughts of the whole House, like mine, are with those affected.
“The House will understand that at this stage I am uncomfortable getting into any more details. But we will of course investigate fully.”
Dorset Police said they received a report of a sudden death of a resident on the Bibby Stockholm at 6:22am.
Rhys Jones reports:
Cleverly promises investigation after asylum seeker dies on Bibby Stockholm
James Cleverly said that the death of an asylum seeker on board the Bibby Stockholm barge will be investigated fully. The home secretary told MPs in the House of Commons: “Tragically, there has been (a) death on the Bibby Stockholm barge. I’m sure that the thoughts of the whole House, like mine, are with those affected. “The House will understand that at this stage I am uncomfortable getting into any more details. But we will of course investigate fully.” Dorset Police said they received a report of a sudden death of a resident on the Bibby Stockholm at 6:22am.
Government has ‘become a people trafficker’, says SNP’s home affairs spokesperson
The Government has in itself become a people trafficker as a result of the Rwanda policy, the SNP’s home affairs spokesperson told the Commons.
Speaking from the SNP front bench, Alison Thewliss said: “If we start to offload our international responsibilities to any third country, we’re effectively surrendering our influence over what then happens next.
“This Government themselves have become people traffickers, sending human beings offshore against their will as if they were some kind of waste to be processed rather than human beings alike in dignity.”
The MP for Glasgow Central also called for the introduction of humanitarian travel documents.
She added: “If a humanitarian travel document existed, those same young people could avoid the perilous journey in a leaky rubber dingy, they could get the same train or ferry as many travellers do every year, they would not need to pay people smugglers at all. That would kill the business model.”
Watch: ‘It will take 100 years to deport asylum seekers to Rwanda’, Yvette Cooper says
Jenrick claims it is ‘critical’ to get Rwanda deal up and running
Robert Jenrick claimed it was “critical” to get the Rwanda deal up and running.
As he spoke about mass migration over the next century, he told MPs: “Some fleeing climate change and persecution, others economic migrants understandably in search of a better life, and it is a great compliment to our country that so many want to come here, but it isn’t sustainable.
“We have to secure our borders and that means that all the good work that we have done over the course of the last year, the Albania deal, the asylum backlog work, the deals with Bulgaria and France and Italy and others, that isn’t enough.
“We are not going to stop the boats purely on that work. You have to interject the strongest possible deterrent and the best deterrent, the only deterrent that we can use in the course of the next 12 months is the Rwanda deal.
“That is why it is so critical that we get that up and running.”
He later claimed one of the “big flaws” with the Bill as it exists is “that it doesn’t address the question of individual claims”.
Robert Jenrick claimed it was “critical” to get the Rwanda deal up and running
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Robert Jenrick claimed it was “critical” to get the Rwanda deal up and running
Watch: Yvette Cooper claims failed asylum seekers are not allowed to return home
UK climate minister goes ‘Awol’ from critical stage in Cop28 talks to vote on Rwanda bill
Graham Stuart will arrive back in the UK to vote on what is seen as a crucial test of Rishi Sunak’s leadership as Prime Minister.
As many as 40 Tory MPs are believed to be prepared to abstain or vote against the Bill, arguing that it does not go far enough in preventing people from stopping themselves being deported through legal action.
Danny Halpin reports:
Tory rebels still weighing up whether to vote against or abstain on Rwanda bill
With just hours to go before the key Commons showdown on Rwanda, Tory rebels are still weighing up whether to vote against or abstain on Rishi Sunak’s plan.
Abstaining increases the chance that the PM’s ‘emergency legislation’ lives to fight another day – or, at least, until the next Commons vote in the new year.
Why would those who oppose the legislation allow it to continue its passage through the Commons?
The key is at the next stage it could theoretically be amended.
Some opponents of the current plan believe it will never stop the boats.
Other are tempted to allow it to proceed to the next stage to see if it could be made stronger.
Groups on the right of the party are meeting to discuss the issue at 5pm today.
There is pressure from some MPs for the groups to decide on an agreed line – and to vote in unison – as a show of power to the prime minister.
