Right wing conservatives have urged the prime minister to “pull” the Rwanda Bill and come up with a a “completely new” piece of legislation.
Mark Francois, chairman to European Research Group (ERG), said there was a “consensus” among right-wingers that Rishi Sunak should “pull the bill”.
The senior rebel said No 10 should “come up with a revised version that works better than this one which has so many holes in it”.
David Jones, the ERG deputy chair, added that he agreed that the current Rwanda bill was “not easily amendable” at the committee stage – even if goes through the first hurdle on Tuesday.
It comes after the so-called “star chamber” of lawyers for the right-wing European Research Group (ERG) said the bill “provides a partial and incomplete solution” but does not go “far enough to deliver the policy as intended”.
The lawyers, led by veteran Eurosceptic Tory MP Sir Bill Cash, said “very significant amendments” to the legislation – which is due to be voted on tomorrow – are needed.
Rishi Sunak should ‘pull the bill’ now, say Tory right-wingers
Mark Francois, chairman to European Research Group (ERG), said there was a “consensus” among right-wingers that Rishi Sunak should “pull the bill”.
The senior rebel said No 10 should “come up with a revised version that works better than this one which has so many holes in it”.
David Jones, the ERG deputy chair, said he agreed that the current Rwanda bill was “not easily amendable” at the committee stage – even if goes through the first hurdle on Tuesday.
Mr Jones said the government “needs to review it” should “maybe consider a completely new piece of legislation.” He said there were “so many gaps in the [current] legislation”.
But Mr Francois suggested MPs in the ERG – and other right-wing groups – would not necessarily agree on how to vote on Tuesday.
“I’m not sure if final decision will be taken even today,” he said on MPs’ decisions.
Pushed on whether the “logical conclusion” of the fierce opposition to the bill was that MPs would vote against it, Mr Francois said: “We have dropped the government a broad hint – we’ll see how the government replies.”
Brexiteer will vote for Rwanda bill on Tuesday
Veteran Tory MP Sir Michael Fabricant, a member of the European Research Group (ERG), said he would be voting for the Rwanda Bill on Tuesday.
But he indicated the group would be pushing for changes in January. Sir Michael said: “It is not perfect (no bill ever is), but I agree with its principle: to deter the slavers providing dangerous channel crossings. Amendments can then be made later in the usual way.”
Tory right-winger suggest he won’t back bill without changes
Right-wing MP Simon Clarke, a figure in the Conservative Growth Group, said the ERG verdict was “very concerning”.
The ex-minister in the Liz Truss government said he “really hopes” Rishi Sunak could be persuaded to make changes.
Suggesting that he could vote against the bill at some stage – whether on Tuesday or early next year – Mr Clarke said: “There is no point frankly in our relitigating this issue unless it does work.”
New Conservatives co-chairman Danny Kruger said: “We’ll be discussing later with colleagues in light of the report that we’ve just received, and having further conversations with government over the course of the next 24 hours.”
Robert Jenrick will speak to ‘five families’ on Tory right at 6pm
Robert Jenrick – the former Sunak who quit as his immigration minister – will speak at a meeting of Tory right-wingers at 6pm on Monday, the European Research Group (ERG) chief Mark Francois has said.
Asked whether ERG members would be told to vote against it, and whether they could vote as a pack, Mr Francois said: “You don’t always announce what you’re going to do well before the bell was ringing.”
The meeting is set to be attended by right-wing MPs from the ERG, the New Conservatives group run by Danny Kruger and Miriam Cates; the Common Sense Group run by Suella Braverman’s ally John Hayes; the Conservative Growth Group, made up of Liz Truss allies, and the Northern Research Group of red-wall MPs.
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Gary Lineker offers Lee Anderson job at Walkers Crisps after next election
Tory MPs have had another busy day taking part in one of their favourite pastimes – arguing with Gary Lineker on X, formerly Twitter.
Mr Lineker has irked Conservative MPs over his support for a “fair” plan for refugees in Britain. Right-winger Jonathan Gullis earlier today accused the Match of the Day presenter of “yet another breach” of the BBC’s rules on political impartiality.
Mr Lineker hit back by suggesting that the Stoke-on-Trent MP may be illiterate. He said: “Jonathan hasn’t read the new guidelines….or, should I say, had someone read them to him?”
Lee Anderson has also waded into the row and said that what the British people want “is to stop the boats and to tell overpaid crisp salesmen to put a sock in it.”
Mr Lineker responded: “I guess we’ll find out what the will of the British people is at the next general election. If you do end up out of work, I’ll put in a word for you with @walkers_crisps”
Sunak in crisis as Tory right-wing rebels’ ‘star chamber’ rejects his Rwanda bill
Rishi Sunak’s premiership has been thrown into crisis after right-wing rebels delivered a scathing rejection of the flagship Rwanda bill – saying it does “not go far enough”.
In a huge blow to the PM, the so-called “star chamber” of lawyers convened by Tories on the European Research Group (ERG) said the bill won’t get deportation flights started.
They group said it offers only a “provides a partial and incomplete solution” to the problem of asylum seekers using the courts to block flights ahead of Tuesday’s crunch vote on the issue.
The group of lawyers, led by veteran Tory Eurosceptic Sir Bill Cash, said “very significant amendments” would be needed by rebel MPs to make it work.
Adam Forrest reports.
Tory ‘star chamber’ tell ERG Rwanda plan provides ‘partial and incomplete solution’ to small boats problem
The Tory ‘star chamber’ – a group of lawyers employed by the right-wing of the party – has told the Conservative European Research Group (ERG) that the Rwanda bill is a “partial and incomplete solution” to the small boats problem.
BBC Newsnight’s Nicholas Watt posted the announcement on X, formerly Twitter. However, despite the advice, the ERG is not what it will advise its members to do on Tuesday’s vote.
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Sunak will stick will ‘toughest version’ of bill, No 10 suggests
No 10 has suggested that Rishi Sunak will stick with the “toughest version” of the Rwanda bill in face of plans by Tory rebels to “fix” it in committee stage.
Asked if the PM would listen to Tory MPs who will put down amendments in January, Mr Sunak’s official spokesman said: “We will continue to listen carefully to MPs.”By the No 10 official suggested there was little room for changes, saying the PM was “confident this is the toughest version of the legislation that will stop the boats”.
