✕CloseRishi Sunak wins Rwanda vote despite Tory rebellion
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Rishi Sunak has won the vote on the Rwanda bill despite a mass rebellion by rightwing Conservative MPs.
MPs on Tuesday evening approved the Safety of Rwanda Bill at second reading by 313 votes to 269, majority 44.
It comes after Mark Francois MP, the chairman of the European Research Group (ERG), announced five separate groups of right-wing Conservative MPs said they could not support the bill, which would designate Rwanda as a safe country for asylum seekers.
The government also won on the first vote as Labour’s bid to block the Safety of Rwanda (Asylum and Immigration) Bill at second reading was rejected by 337 votes to 269, majority 68.
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.
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Coffey says Sunak will be happy with winning Rwanda Bill vote
Therese Coffey said Rishi Sunak will be happy with winning the Rwanda Bill vote.
The MP for Suffolk Coastal said “the issue has become rather totemic” and added she wanted the Conservative Party to focus on “the criminal gangs pushing people across with false hope”.
Speaking after the vote, she said: “That was a solid vote. Rishi Sunak as Prime Minister should be very happy tonight.
“There’s a Bill, we can now get on with that Bill, clearly the Prime Minister has said he’s in a listening mode, wants to make it work.
“It was important to get the Bill through this stage today and I think a majority of 44, any Prime Minister would be proud of that, especially giving the tensions today.
“For the majority of people in this country, what they care about is the money in their pocket and economic growth.”
Asked what she would say to the rebel Tory groups who did not support the Bill, she said: “Just go through the detail carefully, and it’s important that the Government listens, and it’s important that people concerned about the legislation, on both ends of the political party, look at the details.”
Tara Cobham12 December 2023 22:001702415736
Watch the moment Sunak wins Rwanda vote despite right-wing Tory rebellion
There were loud shouts of “aye” after Rishi Sunak’s Safety of Rwanda Bill passed its second reading on Tuesday, 12 December, in the House of Commons.
The prime minister’s new planned legislation would deem Rwanda safe in British law after the original bill was struck down as unlawful by the Supreme Court.
MPs approved the Safety of Rwanda Bill at its second reading by 313 votes to 269, majority 44.
Mr Sunak’s win came after five separate groups of right-wing Conservative MPs decided they could not support the Safety of Rwanda Bill at its second reading.
Holly Patrick reports:
Watch the moment Sunak wins Rwanda vote despite Tory rebellion
There were loud shouts of “aye” after Rishi Sunak’s Safety of Rwanda Bill passed its second reading on Tuesday, 12 December, in the House of Commons. The prime minister’s new planned legislation would deem Rwanda safe in British law after the original bill was struck down as unlawful by the Supreme Court. MPs approved the Safety of Rwanda Bill at its second reading by 313 votes to 269, majority 44. Mr Sunak’s win came after five separate groups of right-wing Conservative MPs decided they could not support the Safety of Rwanda Bill at its second reading.
Tara Cobham12 December 2023 21:151702414536
Is it time the Rwanda scheme was scrapped? Join the Independent Debate
The Prime Minister has successfully defused a Tory revolt, following a crunch vote on his flagship migration policy.
The government’s new Rwanda bill would order British judges and courts to ignore some sections of the UK Human Rights Act to allow for the deportation of asylum seekers to the African country.
Under the plan, asylum seekers that arrive in Britain will be sent to Rwanda for processing where they could either be granted refugee status or allowed to stay.
Find out more here:
Tell us if it’s finally time the Rwanda scheme was scrapped
There has been significant division on both sides of the Conservative Party over the bill
Tara Cobham12 December 2023 20:551702413336
Sunak tweets he will work to put emergency legislation into law
Prime Minister Rishi Sunak tweeted to say he will work to put his emergency legislation into law “so that we can get flights going to Rwanda and stop the boats” after winning a crunch vote in the Commons.
Tara Cobham12 December 2023 20:351702412136
No Tory MP voted against giving Rwanda bill second reading
The division list showed no Conservative MPs voted against giving the Safety of Rwanda (Asylum and Immigration) Bill a second reading.
There were 38 Conservative MPs listed as having no vote recorded, although this does not automatically equate to an abstention.
The division list released by the Commons authorities listed 307 Tory MPs as voting for the Bill along with five independent MPs, including Peter Bone (Wellingborough).
The number is one short of the 313 announced in the chamber, but updates to the list can occur.
There have been occasions where an MP’s vote has not registered on the pass reader system and they are added to the relevant list later – moving from the no vote recorded column.
Tara Cobham12 December 2023 20:151702410936
Rishi Sunak wins Rwanda vote as he staves off mass Tory rebellion – for now
A wounded Rishi Sunak has scraped victory in a crunch vote on his flagship Rwanda policy – but his political future remains under threat ahead of a new year showdown on the issue.
The prime minister faces another battle with his own MPs within weeks after parliament backed his emergency legislation by 313 votes to 269.
As he fought to keep his controversial deportation scheme alive, Mr Sunak even flew a minister in from the Cop 28 climate change conference in Dubai to vote.
Kate Devlin and Archie Mitchell report:
Rishi Sunak wins Rwanda vote as he staves off mass Tory rebellion – for now
Tory MPs warn PM over next stage of flagship deportation bill – as William Hague cautions: We may never win back power
Tara Cobham12 December 2023 19:551702409813
Watch: Rishi Sunak wins Rwanda vote after Tory rebellion
Rishi Sunak wins Rwanda vote after Tory rebellionTara Cobham12 December 2023 19:361702409439
Government wins Rwanda Bill vote
The government has won the vote as MPs approved the Safety of Rwanda Bill at second reading by 313 votes to 269, majority 44.
Tara Cobham12 December 2023 19:301702408644
Goverment wins on first vote on Labour amendment
The government has won on the first vote as Labour’s bid to block the Safety of Rwanda (Asylum and Immigration) Bill at second reading was rejected by 337 votes to 269, majority 68.
MPs are now voting on the original motion, which is to decide whether or not to give the Bill a second reading.
Tara Cobham12 December 2023 19:171702408349
Critics ‘will not back’ Sunak’s Rwanda Bill after meeting in Westminster
Tory MPs demanding tougher legislation on the Rwanda plan have decided they will not back the bill after meeting in Westminster as Rishi Sunak faces a test of his authority.
The Prime Minister has been working to avert a rebellion but he faces resistance from the Tory right, with MPs calling for changes to the Safety of Rwanda Bill – which faces its first Commons test on Tuesday night.
Tories from the European Research Group (ERG) and four other factions were meeting in a Parliamentary committee room to decide on their next steps.
David Hughes reports:
Critics of Sunak’s Rwanda Bill meet in Westminster to consider next moves
Prime Minister Rishi Sunak is battling to exert his authority over a fractured and fractious party.
Tara Cobham12 December 2023 19:12NewerOlder✕
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