Rishi Sunak to address the nation as PM calls unexpected press conference hours after Rwanda vote

Rishi Sunak to address the nation as PM calls unexpected press conference hours after Rwanda vote

WATCH NOW: Rwanda bill passes in Parliament

GB News
Georgina Cutler

By Georgina Cutler


Published: 18/01/2024

- 08:01

Updated: 18/01/2024

- 10:16

The Rwanda Bill is expected to face serious challenges in the upper chamber

Rishi Sunak is expected to address the nation today just hours after MPs voted in favour of the Prime Minister's flagship Rwanda plan.

The Prime Minister is set to speak at a press conference this morning before taking questions.


Sunak faced a major Tory rebellion on Tuesday, as rebels warned his legislation was "fatally flawed".

MPs voted by 320 to 276 to support Sunak’s proposed legislation in its third reading.

Rishi SunakRishi Sunak is expected to address the nation today just hours after MPs voted in favour of the Prime Minister's flagship Rwanda planPA

The Prime Minister’s 44-majority victory came at a price, with 11 Tory MPs voting against Sunak's plan.

Former Home Secretary Suella Braverman and ex-Immigration Minister Robert Jenrick voted against the Safety of Rwanda Bill.

Tory rebels yesterday also unsuccessfully tabled four amendments looking to create less wriggle room for individual appeals and prevent interference from the European Court of Human Rights.

Sunak was keen to reassure potential Tory rebels about the Safety of Rwanda Bill ahead of its return to the House of Commons.

LATEST DEVELOPMENTS:

Tory rebels attempted to block European judges from meddling in the UK’s illegal immigration plan but, only 58 Conservative MPs backed the “notwithstanding” amendment put forward by Brexit veteran Sir Bill Cash.

Cash, who was supported by former Prime Minister Liz Truss and European Research Group chair Mark Francois, hoped his amendment would stop the Supreme Court and European Court of Human Rights thwarting the scheme.

Lee Anderson and Brendan Clarke-Smith resigned as deputy chairmen of the Tory Party ahead of the Commons division on Cash's amendment amid reports Sunak would have no choice but to sack them.

The plan will now pass to the Lords for further scrutiny and is expected to face more challenges.

Lee Anderson

Lee Anderson and Brendan Clarke-Smith resigned as deputy chairmen of the Tory Party ahead of the Commons division on Cash's amendment amid reports Sunak would have no choice but to sack them

GB NEWS

A Number 10 spokesman said the passing of the bill by MPs "marks a major step in our plan to stop the boats".

However, one Tory source said the Prime Minister was "by no means out of the woods".

Speaking to GB News from Leigh-on-Sea in Essex yesterday, Sunak said: “I won't let a foreign court stop us from getting flights off and this deterrent working.

“There's a clause in the Bill that says, very specifically, that it is for ministers to decide whether to comply with Rule 39 rulings as they're called, I would not have put that clause in the Bill if I was not prepared to use it.

“Now look I don't think Strasbourg will intervene because of the checks and balances in our system. And of course, there will be individual circumstances that people want us to consider on the facts."

You may like