Tory revolt disintegrates as Rishi Sunak given final warning on migrant crisis

Rishi Sunak in the House of Commons

Rishi Sunak saw off a Commons rebellion yesterday

PA
Dan Falvey

By Dan Falvey


Published: 28/03/2023

- 09:04

Updated: 29/03/2023

- 08:43

Conservative backbenchers have told the Prime Minister he has three weeks to find a compromise

Rishi Sunak managed to avoid the biggest Commons rebellion of his premiership last night, as he pledged to hold talks with Tory backbenchers frustrated by his Illegal Migration Bill.

Immigration minister Robert Jenrick said he would “engage closely” with Tory colleagues to ensure the final Bill “meets the requirements of all on our side of the House”.


A number of Conservative MPs had expressed their concerns that the new legislation did not go far enough to block the involvement of the European Court of Human Rights when dealing with asylum claims.

Some had even called on ministers to take the UK out of the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR) completely to drive through tighter border controls and prevent them being stifled by the courts.

Rwanda immigration proposals savaged as 'attempt to magic away' Channel migrant crisis

The plans aimed to reduce the number of asylum seekers crossing the English Channel

gbnews

Sunak's Bill aims to stop people claiming asylum in the UK if they arrive through unauthorised means, including by crossing the English Channel in small boats.

It could result in asylum seekers being detained without bail or judicial review for 28 days before being removed to their home country or a “safe third country” such as Rwanda.

As many as 60 Tory MPs had threatened to rebel in a Commons vote on the legislation.

Yesterday Jenrick assured MPs he would speak to them about their worries that human rights law could interfere with the legislation.

Speaking during the Bill’s committee stage, he told the Commons: “I am certainly keen to give them an undertaking to engage with them and other colleagues who are interested in these points ahead of report stage of the Bill.

“We are united in our determination that this Bill will be a robust Bill, that it will be able to survive the kind of egregious and vexatious legal challenges that we have seen in the past, and that it will enable us to do the job and to remove illegal immigrants to safe third countries like Rwanda.

“I would add that the Bill has been carefully drafted in collaboration with some of the finest legal minds and we do believe that it enables us to do the job while complying with our international law obligations.

“But we are going to engage closely with colleagues and ensure that the final Bill meets the requirements of all on our side of the House.”

Conservative MP Jonathon Gullis on GB News with Nigel Farage

Conservative MP Jonathon Gullis warned of the rebellion to return

GB News

Downing Street now has three weeks, until after Parliament’s Easter recess, to come up with a solution to avoid the rebellion resurfacing when the next vote on the legislation takes place.

Speaking to GB News last night, Conservative MP Jonathon Gullis vowed Tory backbenchers would still vote against the Government at the next stage of the Commons process if their concerns were not listened to.

"What we have agreed, after speaking to the Home Secretary, is to not push for a vote at committee stage," he said.

"If we are not taken seriously... we will not be afraid to call a vote and it will ultimately mean the Conservative party will only win any division via Opposition votes, which is the last thing anyone wants to see."

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