A plan hatched by Tory rebels to block European judges from meddling in the UK’s illegal immigration plan has failed as Rishi Sunak survives another major test on his Safety of Rwanda Bill.
Only 58 Conservative MPs backed the “notwithstanding” amendment put forward by Brexit veteran Sir Bill Cash, with the Democratic Unionist Party also putting pressure on the Prime Minister to toughen up the legislation.
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.
However, 529 MPs opposed the amendment in a much-needed boost for Sunak.
Tory rebel plan to block European judges' meddling FAILS as Sunak survives major testPAFormer Immigration Minister Robert Jenrick, who resigned from Sunak’s Government over the Prime Minister's revised Rwanda policy in December, tabled three separate amendments.
Jenrick's proposal looking to remove the ability for asylum seekers to block their own removal through suspensive claims also failed to receive widespread support.
A total of 58 MPs voted for Jenrick's amendment but 525 MPs opposed the proposal.
The Newark MP has pushed two more amendments which hope to more completely exclude the Human Rights Act from the legislation and prevent so-called “pyjama injunctions” to bolster Rule 39 indications.
LATEST DEVELOPMENTS:
Robert Jenrick speaks to GB NewsGB NewsLee 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 Commons division on Cash's amendment amid reports Sunak would have no choice but to sack them.
Jane Stevenson, a parliamentary private secretary in the Department for Business & Trade, also quit after supporting the amendments.
Despite Sunak receiving a boost with both amendments failing, the Prime Minister needs to overcome another Rwanda rebellion when the legislation returns to the House of Commons tomorrow.
Around a dozen Tory MPs intend to vote against the Safety of Rwanda Bill if it is left unamended.
Lee Anderson
GB NEWSFormer 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.
Sunak would suffer a hammer blow if just 29 Tory MPs voted against the Bill or 57 decided to abstain.
The Prime Minister looked to reassure Tory rebels ahead of today's amendments.
Speaking to GB News from Leigh-on-Sea in Essex yesterday, the Prime Minister said: "I won't let a foreign court stop us from getting flights off and this deterrent working.
Rishi Sunak PA"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.
"But if you're asking me you know, are there circumstances in which I'm prepared to ignore those Rule 39s? Then yes, of course there are."
Responding to the Prime Minister’s comments, an ERG source told GB News: “He can’t overrule Strasbourg judges without our amendments. It is as simple as that!”