Prime Minister Rishi Sunak leaves Dorland House in London after giving evidence to the UK Covid-19 Inquiry during its second inquiry into key UK decision-making and political governance.
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LONDON — UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak on Tuesday sought to shore up his faltering grip on power by voting through his controversial Rwanda immigration bill despite mounting pressure from right-wing rebels within his own party.
Sunak has billed his flagship policy as the UK’s “toughest immigration law” in an effort to quell dissent and win the support of hard-line Tories, but many insist the plans do not go far enough. stable and will face more legal hurdles.
The prime minister’s original plan to deport asylum seekers to Rwanda was scrapped last month after the Supreme Court ruled that the African country was an unsafe place to send those arriving in Britain on small boats. boat
The amended bill, which has been called “Salvation of Rwanda Bill,” was introduced last week as emergency legislation to override domestic and international law in a sign that it has become an increasingly defining feature of his rule.
It will face its first test in parliament tonight, when members of Parliament (MPs) will have a chance to debate and vote on it at around 7 pm local time.
Sunak aims to drum up support ahead of the vote by hosting a series of meetings with MPs, including a breakfast summit in Downing Street. But he faces an uphill battle from both sides of the party, with moderates concerned about Britain’s breach of its human rights obligations and those on the right arguing the plans will fail to stop the illegal arrival.
He aims to both ensure that party members vote and, importantly, that they vote in favor of the bill. The legislation is still subject to subsequent rounds of approval, including in the House of Lords, the unelected upper chamber.
Deputy Chairman of the Conservative Party, Lee Anderson (L) leaves with Conservative MPs including Lia Nichi (2L), Alexander Stafford (5L), and Jill Mortimer (R) from 10 Downing Street in central London on December 12 , 2023, after attending a breakfast meeting with the Prime Minister of Britain. (Photo by Adrian DENNIS / AFP) (Photo by ADRIAN DENNIS/AFP via Getty Images)
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The Conservatives’ current working majority in the House of Commons is 56. As such, it would only take about 30 Conservative MPs to vote with the opposition parties — who largely oppose the law — for it to fall.
More than 20 MPs are expected to rebel, a Tory insider said said the BBC.
Defeat would be a huge embarrassment for Sunak, who has made stopping boat arrivals one of his biggest priorities, and would greatly undermine his authority in his party.
Political divisions have run through Sunak’s brief rule in recent months, with former Interior Secretary Suella Braverman, who was ousted last month, leading the charge by rebel factions who question his continued leadership ahead of a general election likely next year.
Labor opposition leader Keir Starmer, who is leading the polls, said On Tuesday he voted against the bill, describing it as a “gimmick” and saying his party would use the money to boost cross-border policing to tackle human trafficking gangs.
The government has so far paid £240 million ($301 million) to Rwanda, although it only has the capacity to house a few hundred refugees and has not yet sent any to the country.
