Conservative Party Chairman Richard Holden has suggested that Rishi Sunak will make concessions to furious Conservative backbenchers on the right-wing of the party
Conservative Party Chairman Richard Holden told GB News the Government is 'open to discussion' about tweaks to 'toughen up' the legislation
Conservative Party Chairman Richard Holden has suggested that Rishi Sunak will make concessions to furious Conservative backbenchers on the right-wing of the party.
This comes as the PM attempts to rally support for his Rwanda Bill, being voted upon this evening.
Speaking to GB News, Holden said: "The Government has made clear that if there are any tweaks that can be made to toughen it up further then they are open to discussions on that".
The Prime Minister had previously said the current legislation was as far as the Government could go, as taking it any further would jeopardise the agreement with Rwanda.
Calling for MPs to back the Government's legislation, Holden said: "I think today's we've got a really important thing to do. and that's to deliver the toughest legislation imaginable.
"And that is tougher than anything any previous Government has passed, to really help clamp down on illegal immigration and get the Rwanda scheme moving as quickly as possible.
"It removes all of those legal issues that have dogged us over the years when we have tired to ensure that people get deported from the UK.
"I think this is a really strong plan and I hope that people get behind it. It is absolutely vital that they do because the only alternative is Keir Starmer's open-door immigration policy.
"Starmer thinks that any forms of controls on immigration are racist, which is obvious nonsense and we need to have a strong plan and back the Prime Minister tonight in order to deliver for the British people."
He added: "Obviously, this is also a second reading vote, so this is on the principle of it. Any Tory MP should be backing the principle of tougher immigration controls. Which is exactly what's on the table today.
"There is obviously further detail and the Government has made clear that if there are any tweaks that can be made to toughen it up further then they are open to discussions on that".
MPs will vote on the legislation this evening.
Sunak has spent the day trying to secure support from MPs on both sides of the party, meeting with the right-wing New Conservatives group this morning.
Yesterday, lawyers acting on behalf of right-wing MPs warned that the Bill provides a "partial and incomplete solution to the problem of legal challenges", saying it does not "go far enough to deliver the policy as intended".
The document, published by the ERG, lists 13 "limitations" of the legislation and warns the Bill "contains no restrictions on the bringing of legal challenges against removal to Rwanda based on grounds other than that Rwanda is not a safe country".
It also claims there is "nothing in the Bill which would prevent the UK courts from following or being influenced by a final ruling of the Strasbourg Court on a case where the Bill does not expressly preclude them from doing so".
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Sunak has been warned that, once in Rwanda, an asylum seeker "will be able to appeal any previous decisions based on new evidence".
However, the group is yet to confirm how it will advise its MPs to vote.
There is a chance it could choose to vote for the bill today, in order to make amendments at its next stage.
But it is understood that the ERG-led coalition of Tory factions wants Sunak to toughen up the Bill before it faces a vote this evening.
ADDITIONAL REPORTING BY CHRISTOPHER HOPE
