Rishi Sunak facing major Tory revolt over Rwanda bill

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak is dealing with a substantial rebellion from Conservative MPs regarding the proposed legislation to send certain asylum seekers to Rwanda.

More than 30 conservative backbenchers, including former leaders and ministers, seek to amend the bill to restrict appeals against deportation.

The proposed changes come amidst party divisions over the Rwanda plan, a key policy initiative for Sunak. The government argues that the bill currently allows very few appeals.

During Prime Minister's Questions, Labour's Sir Keir Starmer accused Sunak of being controlled by his party members. Sunak defended his policy, stating the opposition lacks practical solutions to illegal migration and cannot be trusted to control it.

The legislation, introduced after a Supreme Court ruling against the government's original Rwanda plan, declares Rwanda a safe country for refugees in written UK law. It aims to bypass orders from the European Court of Human Rights that could halt deportations.

However, rebel MPs want to further limit grounds for appeals and make it standard to disregard ECHR injunctions barring flights.

The rebels' amendments are unlikely to pass without Labour support. Yet, they could threaten the bill's future if they joined opposition votes in later stages.

Ex-minister Robert Jenrick suggested the bill would not sufficiently deter Channel crossings without the suggested changes, hinting he might vote against the legislation if amendments fail.

Ministers may consider concessions, but Downing Street has emphasized not accepting changes that undermine the Rwanda agreement. The government also faces opposition from the party's One Nation group, concerned about international law compliance.