Downing Street has ruled out making concessions on its Safety of Rwanda Bill as more parliamentary ping pong looms.
Peers on Tuesday voted to amend the legislation for a third time, further prolonging parliamentary wrangling over the law intended to clear the way for asylum-seekers who cross the Channel in small boats to be deported to Rwanda.
The government had been reportedly considering concessions, including exemptions for Afghans who assisted British forces, but the prime minister’s official spokesman ruled out any such move.
Meanwhile, Sir Keir Starmer accused “billionaires” Rishi Sunak and Tory peer Lord Ashcroft of “smearing a working class woman”, his deputy, Angela Rayner.
The pair have criticised Ms Rayner over the sale of her former council house, suggesting she may have failed to pay capital gains tax or given false information.
Earlier it was reported that the police probe was looking at several allegations including tax relating to the sale.
Also at Prime Minister’s Questions, Rishi Sunak refused to rule out cuts to the NHS and state pensions to fund a £46bn national insurance giveaway.
MPs reject bid to ensure Rwanda Bill follows human-rights laws
MPs have voted by 306 to 240, a majority of 66, to reject a Lords amendment that sought to ensure the Safety of Rwanda Bill had “due regard” for international and key domestic laws, including human rights and modern slavery legislation.
No 10 refuses to consider more Rwanda Bill concessions
Downing Street has ruled out making concessions on its Safety of Rwanda Bill as MPs and peers prepare for another round of parliamentary ping pong.
Peers have voted for a third time to amend the legislation that will allow asylum-seekers crossing the Channel in small boats to be deported to Rwanda.
The government had been reported to be considering making some concessions to ensure the Bill’s passage, including on exemptions for Afghan nationals who assisted British forces.
But the Prime Minister’s official spokesman ruled out any such move, telling reporters: “We are not considering concessions. We believe the Bill as it stands is the right Bill and the quickest way to get flights off the ground.”
MPs are therefore likely to reject the Lords’ amendments once again, before sending the legislation back to the Upper House later on Wednesday.
It will then be up to peers to decide whether to press their changes further, with Labour saying it would back two amendments proposed by the Lords.
A party spokesman said Labour would “continue to take the position that we have so far”, including by supporting proposals to exempt Afghans who helped UK troops.
There is potential for further debate on the Bill until late on Wednesday night as the legislation passes between Parliament’s two houses if agreement is not reached.
Watch: Tory minister says she will not be reading Liz Truss’s new book
Ex-Tory minister slams ‘hypocritical’ focus on Angela Rayner’s tax affairs as police probe multiple claims
Nick Boles, who was an MP for nine years, slammed the scrutiny over the sale of Ms Rayner’s former council home and whether she avoided paying the right tax or had correctly registered at the right address.
Full report:
‘Shout a bit louder so none of us can hear’: MPs in row over Rayner house sale live on air
Two MPs became embroiled in a row over the investigation into Angela Rayner and the sale of her former home live on air after PMQs.
James Daly, the Conservative Party deputy chairman, was asked by senior Labour MP Chris Bryant what offences he thought Ms Rayner, Labour’s deputy leader, had committed.
Greater Manchester Police launched an investigation after Mr Daly contacted them with concerns about how the force had initially responded after it emerged that Ms Rayner had not paid capital gains tax on the sale of the property.
When asked by the Labour MP what he thought Ms Rayner had done, Mr Daly said “the matter is with Greater Manchester Police – they’ve confirmed” before being interrupted by Mr Bryant.
“Shout a bit louder so none of us can hear,” Mr Daly then told Mr Bryant. “Unlike Chris, who shouts and makes all sorts of public allegations, what I want to do is – an allegation has been made to the police, the police are investigating that allegation – lets give them the time and opportunity to do that”.
It is the second time this week Mr Daly has refused to say what offences he thought Ms Rayner had committed. Read more below:
Watch: Sunak takes aim at Rayner’s ‘tax affairs’ during fiery exchange over Liz Truss’s book at PMQs
Sunak takes aim at Rayner’s ‘tax affairs’ in PMQs exchange over new Liz Truss book
Rishi Sunak took a jibe at Angela Rayner’s tax affairs during Prime Minister’s Questions on Wednesday 17 April. Sir Keir Starmer opened the session by joking that he was “privileged to be the proud owner” of Liz Truss’s new book and took issue with her claim that 2022’s disastrous Budget was “the happiest moment of her premiership”. “Has the prime minister met anyone with a mortgage who agrees?” he asked, drawing laughter from the Commons. “All I’d say is, he’d ought to spend a bit less time reading that book and a bit more time reading the deputy leader’s tax advice,” Mr Sunak said, hitting back. He was referencing the row over Ms Rayer’s previous living arrangements.
Sunak defends Truss’s record as foreign secretary
Rishi Sunak defended his predecessor Liz Truss’s legacy as foreign secretary and its impact on “Brexit Britain”.
Labour MP Daniel Zeichner (Cambridge) asked: “In the exchanges earlier we didn’t hear much of a defence from the prime minister of his predecessor, so perhaps he could tell the house what does he consider to be her greatest achievement?”
The PM replied: “While the party opposite were busy trying to take us back into the EU and reverse the referendum result, my predecessor was signing trade deals around the world, which have now meant that Brexit Britain has overtaken the Netherlands, France and Japan to become the fourth largest exporter in the world.”
Government ‘actively looking’ at reducing costs for victims accessing court transcripts
The government is “actively looking” at options to reduce the costs victims face when trying to access court transcripts, Rishi Sunak said.
Liberal Democrat MP Sarah Olney (Richmond Park) told the Commons: “Four years ago my constituent Juliana was drugged and raped by her then boyfriend. After his conviction Juliana was advised that reading a transcript of his trial would help her to come to terms with her experience, but when she requested that transcript she was told that she would have to pay more than £7,000.”
She claimed other victims had been quoted up to £22,000 to read transcripts, adding: “Justice should not have a price tag.”
Ms Olney said the Lib Dems would bring an amendment to the Victims and Prisoners Bill intended to make access to transcripts free of charge, and asked: “Juliana is here in the gallery today and she asks if the Prime Minister will support that amendment. Will he look her in the eye and say yes?”
The PM replied: “We are committed to improving victims’ access to court transcripts to help them move on and rebuild their lives. We already offer a free service to families of homicide victims for example, and that is why we have already committed to a one-year pilot to help identify the current demand, inform our next steps.
“Alongside this we are actively looking at other options to immediately reduce the costs.”
Sunak tells Israeli’s Netanyahu escalation is not in ‘anyone’s interest’
Sunak said he spoke to Israel’s Netanyahu and discussed how Iran is “isolated on world stage” and told him “escalation is not in anyones interest”, Zoe Grunewald reports.
“I also reiterated our concerns about the humanitarian situation in Gaza where I welcome the statements and commitments that the Israeli government have made about significantly increasing aid into Gaza, and now we need to see those commitments delivered,” the PM said.
Sunak: SNP should stop ‘obsessing’ about independence
The SNP should stop “obsessing” about independence and trying to lock up JK Rowling, and instead focus on what matters to people in Scotland, the prime minister told the Commons.
SNP Westminster leader Stephen Flynn highlighted comments made by Scottish Trades Union Congress general secretary Roz Foyer on independence remaining an unresolved issue, he added: “She said ‘that can be a very dangerous place to end up in, when you are not allowing people to express their wishes in a democratic manner’.
“So may I ask the prime minister, does he welcome the fulsome, wholehearted, and warm support of the Labour Party in denying the people of Scotland that opportunity to have a say over their own future.”
Rishi Sunak replied: “We did have a democratic vote on that topic.
“But what I would suggest to the SNP is that rather than obsessing about independence and indeed wasting time cracking down on free speech and trying to lock up JK Rowling, he should focus on what the people in Scotland actually care about – schools, hospitals, jobs, and our new tax cuts.”
