Tory MPs hold crunch talks just minutes before vote which risk leaving Sunak on the brink

Tory MPs hold crunch talks just minutes before vote which risk leaving Sunak on the brink
Millie Cooke

By Millie Cooke


Published: 17/01/2024

- 11:45

Updated: 17/01/2024

- 11:48

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

Conservative MPs have scheduled a crunch meeting this evening, set to take place just minutes before they vote on the Government's Rwanda legislation.

The meeting, held by the right wing European Research Group, will take place at 5pm, ahead of this evening's vote.


The ERG is still weighing up whether or not to tell its MPs to vote against the legislation, GB News understands.

One senior ERG source told GB News the group will not know how it plans to vote until they have had the meeting and discussed the legislation.

Sunak/Francois

Conservative MPs have scheduled a crunch meeting this evening

PA

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.

Mark Francois, the group's chairman, asked MPs affiliated with all groups on the right of the party to attend, in order to discuss "the remaining stages" of the bill.

MPs from the New Conservatives, the Common Sense Group and the Northern Research Group are expected to attend.

A total of 60 rebel MPs voted for right wing amendments to toughen up the legislation yesterday, but were voted down.

If just half of those MPs decide to vote against the Government's Bill, it could be defeated.

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.

LATEST DEVELOPMENTS:


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.

You may like