Rishi Sunak has just hours to save his premiership, as he grapples with the prospect of another rebellion this evening which could leave his credibility in tatters.
Sunak could pull the legislation at the last minute today, sources told GB News, if it appears that enough rebels are willing to vote against it.
A total of 60 Conservative MPs rebelled last night to back right-wing amendments to the legislation. If just half of those who rebelled last night choose to vote against the Bill at its third reading this evening, it will be defeated.
There are understood to be around 15 Conservative MPs willing to vote against the legislation so far, but this number could increase as the day goes on.
Former Home Secretary Suella Braverman, ex-Business Secretary Sir Jacob Rees-Mogg and co-chairman of the New Conservatives Miriam Cates all indicated they would vote against the Government.
The eight MPs from the Democratic Unionist Party are also expected to vote against the Bill this evening.
While this evening's vote is not expected to be a confidence vote, if it gets voted down it is generally accepted that Sunak's ability to command the respect of his party would be in tatters.
As Sunak gears up for this evening's vote, it emerged that another four boats crossed the English Channel this morning, GB News can exclusively reveal.
A fifth boat is currently attempting to cross in deteriorating weather conditions, an attempt condemned by maritime security sources as “crazily stupid”.
Lee Anderson and Brendan Clarke-Smith, who last night confirmed they would support the amendments, resigned as deputy chairmen of the tory Party ahead of the vote.
This came amid reports Sunak would have no choice but to sack them.
Jane Stevenson, a parliamentary private secretary in the Department for Business and Trade, also quit after supporting the amendments.
In total, 70 MPs backed the Cash amendment. 60 Tories, including two tellers who verify the count, supported the amendment, along with two independent MPs who were formerly members of the Conservative parliamentary party - Scott Benton and Andrew Bridgen.
They were joined by eight DUP MPs.
While the amendment was rejected by 529 votes to 68, the scale of the rebellion was significant.
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Speaking in yesterday's debate, Cash said the rebels "want the Bill to succeed, we want it to work and we want to do what our voters want, but at present it does not."
He added: “Clause two as it stands does not work and that is why I shall put my amendment 10 to a vote, supported as it is by well over 60 Members of Parliament.
“Clause two of the Bill needs to be amended with clear and unambiguous words and with a full notwithstanding formula, not the one that is currently on offer.
“This formula has been used throughout our legislative history for hundreds of years – but most recently it has been enacted in our most important domestic and constitutional legislation without opposition, namely section 38 of the Withdrawal Agreement 2020. The sovereignty of the Crown in Parliament is democracy.”
Tory former cabinet minister Sir Simon Clarke told MPs that "this is our last chance to act in this Parliament".
Meanwhile, Jenrick asked: "How much are we actually willing to do to stop the boats? How (much) are we willing to take on the vested interests, balance the trade-offs, take the robust steps that will actually work?
“The only countries in the world that have fixed this problem, latterly Australia and Greece, have been willing to take the most robust action, are we? Well, I am."
