✕CloseRishi Sunak should ‘pull the Rwanda bill’ now, says Tory right-winger
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Mark Francois, chairman of the European Research Group (ERG), has told Rishi Sunak there was a “consensus” among right-wing Tory MPs that he should “pull” the Rwanda 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 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 are needed.
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.
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VIDEO: Grant Shapps warns Gary Lineker to 'stick to football' after Rwanda plan criticism
Grant Shapps warns Gary Lineker to 'stick to football' after Rwanda plan criticismJoe Middleton11 December 2023 16:581702312810
Sunak to meet right-wing rebels for breakfast
Rishi Sunak will meet Tory right-wing rebels to discuss the Rwanda bill over breakfast at No 10 on Tuesday morning ahead of the big vote, according to reports.
A group of around 20 MPs in the New Conservatives group, led by Danny Kruger and Miriam Cates, have been invited.It is not clear if others in the ERG and Common Sense Group will also be invited. No 10 would not comment, but did deny, the 11th-hour breakfast meeting.
Adam Forrest11 December 2023 16:401702312250
Second reading of Sunak’s Rwanda plan will go ahead as planned, say No 10
Downing Street insisted it would “continue to listen to MPs on their views” on the Rwanda Bill as Rishi Sunak’s new illegal migration minister Michael Tomlinson briefs MPs this afternoon ahead of a crunch vote on Tuesday.
The second reading will go ahead as planned, No 10 said, despite backbench calls for the legislation to be withdrawn.
The prime minister’s official spokesperson said: “Of course we’ll continue to listen to MPs on their views. Some groups of MPs have set out detailed views earlier today which we’ll listen to carefully.”
He said it remains the government’s view that the Bill is the strongest possible piece of legislation as it stands.
“We do believe this Bill is strong enough to achieve its aims,” the spokesperson said.
Joe Middleton11 December 2023 16:301702311424
‘No bill is going to be perfect’: Tory MP’s message to right-wing ERG group
Conservative MP Paul Scully has told the ERG that “no bill is going to be perfects” after the group sensationally rejected Rishi Sunak’s new Rwanda scheme.
Appearing on The News Agents and responding to the ERG calling for the bill to be pulled, Mr Scully said: “No bill is going to be perfect, and as I said, if it goes to where he wants to go Rwanda will pull out of the deal anyway, so he won’t get that through.
“It won’t get through the House of Lords, I mean, bearing in mind we are talking about are we going to get this through the House of Commons. The House of Lords we do not have a majority, and if we’re going one way or another then, you know this isn’t going to get off the ground.
Joe Middleton11 December 2023 16:171702310392
Rwanda bill gives ‘exceptionally narrow route’ for legal challenge
The Rwanda bill offers only an “exceptionally narrow route” for migrants to challenge deportation flights, the summary of the government’s legal advice has said.
On the exemptions, the advice said: “Not to do so would mean ministers accepting that those unfit to fly, for example those in the late stages of pregnancy, or sufferers of very rare medical conditions that could not be cared for in Rwanda, could be removed with no right to judicial scrutiny,” it said.
It also said that “completely blocking any court challenges would be a breach of international law”.
There will be a “very high barrier” for legal challenges. “For any such claim a person would have to provide compelling and credible evidence that their specific circumstances put them at immediate risk of serious and irreversible harm if they were to be removed. That is a very high barrier to cross.”
Adam Forrest11 December 2023 15:591702309970
Home Office mandarin urged to explain ‘secrecy’ over Rwanda payments
The Home Office’s top civil servant has been asked to explain why there was “secrecy” over payments to Rwanda after being summoned by MPs to answer questions about Rishi Sunak’s faltering immigration plan.
The department’s permanent secretary Sir Matthew Rycroft appeared in front of the Commons Public Accounts Committee (PAC) – which scrutinises government spending – on Monday afternoon.
He was hauled before MPs after previously failing under questioning by PAC and the Commons Home Affairs Committee to disclose the amount of money the government has already paid to Rwanda under the deal signed in April last year and how much more it had already committed to pay in the coming months.
Late on Thursday night, in the wake of the sessions, a letter from him to Dame Meg and Dame Diana Johnson, the Home Affairs Committee chairwoman, was published which revealed the UK had handed over a further £100 million on top of the £140 million already paid to Rwanda and ministers expected to pay another £50 million next year for the policy which has so far been unsuccessful in removing a single migrant amid legal challenges.
On Monday, PAC chairwoman Dame Meg Hillier asked: “Why the secrecy around this figure on a government flagship programme?”
Sir Matthew said: “You’re right that it’s an absolutely crucial programme and you’re, of course, right that there is a huge amount of interest in anything to do with the Migration Economic Development Partnership with Rwanda. But I repeat what I said last Monday, and indeed to the Home Affairs select committee before that, which is that we have reached an agreement with the government of Rwanda, that this is commercially sensitive information and that the right way to announce it is exactly in line with all other government spending, which is annually in the annual reports and accounts. And that’s the normal way of all government spending from the Home Office and any other government department.”
Joe Middleton11 December 2023 15:521702308140
VIDEO: No one objected to Eat Out To Help Out, Sunak reveals
No one objected to Eat Out To Help Out, Sunak revealsJoe Middleton11 December 2023 15:221702307504
Tory MPs ‘threatened with early election if they don’t back Sunak’s Rwanda plan'
Sky’s Sam Coates is reporting that Tory MPs have been threatened with an early General Election if they do not back Rishi Sunak’s Rwanda plan on Tuesday.
Mr Coates said: “Some Tory MPs claim colleagues threatened with an early election if they vote down the bill But a number are sceptical No10 would follow through.
“One told me they’re minded to vote against providing they can answer the question how this wouldn’t be curtains for Rishi Sunak.”
Joe Middleton11 December 2023 15:111702306639
Housing asylum seekers could rise to £32m a day, says government
The government estimates the cost of asylum accommodation alone could rise to £32m per day by 2026 – equivalent to £11bn per year – if “illegal migration goes unaddressed”.
A new summary of the government’s legal position on the stalled Rwanda plan set out the figures as it argued its case for needing to use “all the powers at its disposal to prevent and deter unlawful migration”.
It describes illegal migration via Channel crossings a “matter of significant public concern” and said it places “substantial additional burdens on to public services”.
Adam Forrest11 December 2023 14:571702305935
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.”
Joe Middleton11 December 2023 14:45NewerOlder✕
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