Threat of significant Tory rebellion over Rwanda bill recedes with only ‘small number’ reported to be voting against it
Tory rebels are now admitting that only a handful of their number will vote against the Rwanda bill at third reading, according to reporters who have been covering their meeting in the Commons this afternoon. (The MPs meet in private, but sometimes they talk to reporters on the way out.)
This is from Aubrey Allegretti from the Times.
Rebellion has melted away🚨
Rebel source says a “small number” of MPs will vote against the Rwanda bill at third reading.
They say the “overwhelming likelihood is the bill will pass quite comfortably”
They say this isn’t the end of the matter and if the Lords weaken the bill,…
Rebellion has melted away Rebel source says a “small number” of MPs will vote against the Rwanda bill at third reading. They say the “overwhelming likelihood is the bill will pass quite comfortably” They say this isn’t the end of the matter and if the Lords weaken the bill, MPs will toughen the bill. “The PM is by no means out of the woods.”
Jacob Rees-Mogg emerges from rebel meeting to confirm he will vote for the Rwanda bill at third reading.
And this is from Sky’s Beth Rigby.
BREAK: told overwhelming number of rebels at the gathering of the right WILL vote for the bill. Small number will vote against. Rebel source: we expect the bill to pass tonight (c 30 MPs in meet)
BREAK: told overwhelming number of rebels at the gathering of the right WILL vote for the bill. Small number will vote against. Rebel source: we expect the bill to pass tonight (c 30 MPs in meet)
NEW: Labour confirms that Keir Starmer has written to cabinet secretary Simon Case to start access talks as per @AnushkaAsthana. The process is expected to begin before the end of this month.
Shadow home secretary Yvette Cooper has criticised the Tory “chaos and carnage”.
She said:
The only thing the Tories all seem to agree on is that the scheme is failing…the prime minister is failing and they know it.
She added Sunak’s authority was “in tatters”.
“He’s in office but not in power,” she said.
Home secretaryJames Cleverly is now on the floor. He has said the government will do “whatever it takes to stop the boats”.
He added: “This Bill has been meticulously drafted to end the merry-go-round of legal challenges.”
A questioner asks: “Can the home secretary confirm that if this bill receives royal assent, that it will not breach international law?
Cleverly responded: “As drafted, as we intend this Bill to progress, it will comply completely with international law.”
MPs voted 338 to 264, a majority 74, to reject a Labour amendment that sought to require the Government to report to Parliament if a person previously relocated to Rwanda had been returned to the UK due to being involved in serious crime.
The vote on a motion that Clauses 9 and 10 “stand part” of the Safety of Rwanda Bill was backed 340 to 264. A majority of 76. The clauses set out the title of the Bill, and state that it will come into force on the same day the UK’s treaty with Rwanda does.
ITV’s Anushka Asthana has said that Keir Starmer has written to cabinet secretary Simon Case to start Labour’s “access talks” with the civil service to start preparations for a possible change in government.
EXC: ITV News understands that in the last hour Keir Starmer has written to Cabinet secretary Simon Case to start Labour’s “access talks” with civil service. Given PM has okay-ed from govt side (re @breeallegretti) talks expected to start by end of Jan 1/ https://t.co/vVli10ggXR
Next vote on Amendment 36. This requires the publication of a full impact assessment on the costs involved in removal to Rwanda before the Bill comes into force. This was rejected by 339 votes to 263. A majority of 76.
Next vote was on a motion that clauses 5, 6, 7 and 8 “stand part” of the safety of Rwanda bill. They were backed 340 to 263, a majority of 77.
These clauses include measures which insist it is for ministers to decide when they will comply with interim measures from the Strasbourg court.
Jenrick amendment rejected
Amendment 23 from Robert Jenrick, seeking to block last-minute injunctions from European judges has been rejected 536 to 65, a majority of 471.
MPs vote against Jenrick’s amendment to Rwanda bill – video
A final tranche from Tomlinson’s speech earlier in which he said the government “will not stop” in its bid to see planes take off for Rwanda.
That is why we have inserted into clause five of this bill, which is crystal clear that it is for ministers and ministers alone to decide whether to comply with rule 39 injunctions. We would not have inserted clause five if we were not prepared to use it.
And I can confirm to the house that we can and will lawfully use that power if the circumstances arise, the discretion is there. But we go further still, and we confirm that the civil service must implement any such decision. Today the permanent secretary for the Home Office has confirmed that if we receive a rule 39, instead of deferring removal immediately, as currently is the practice, officials will refer the rule 39 to the minister … in this case to me, for an immediate decision, as the Cabinet Office has confirmed that is the responsibility of civil servants under the civil service code to deliver that decision.
… Colleagues have confirmation that we have the power we would use the power and the civil service will give effect to it.
If a plane is sitting on that runway, this government will not stop until it takes off. And we all know what the opposition would do. They would campaign for it to be grounded.
