Rishi Sunak averted a Tory uprising by passing his contentious Rwanda measure through the House of Commons’ final chamber.
The government obtained a 44-vote majority in favour of the bill, which sought to declare Rwanda a secure country to deport asylum seekers, with 276 votes to 320 in favour of the bill.
Former home secretary Suella Braverman, former immigration minister Robert Jenrick, Sir Bill Cash, Sir Simon Clarke, Sarah Dines, James Duddridge, Andrea Jenkyns, David Jones, and co-chairs of the New Conservatives Danny Kruger and Miriam Cates were among the eleven Conservative MPs who cast negative votes.
Except for Lee Anderson, who resigned as deputy party chair yesterday in opposition to the legislation, former prime minister Theresa May, and veteran MP Sir John Hayes, eighteen Conservative MPs abstained on the bill.
Despite the apprehension of a Tory MP revolt, the measure was successfully passed, despite seven members, including Ms Braverman and Mr Jenrick, initially expressing their intention to vote against it in the third reading.
Mr Sunak had anticipated a dispute with right-wing Conservatives regarding the measure, which seeks to revive his proposal to repatriate asylum seekers to Rwanda if they attempt to enter the United Kingdom via narrow boat crossings in the Channel.
The bill, formulated to empower parliament to affirm Rwanda’s status as a “safe country,” grants ministers the authority to disregard portions of the Human Rights Act. However, it does not extend to that extent the authority to completely disregard the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR), a proposal by certain right-wing factions.
Rebel Support and Unity
However, one of the rebels, Sir Jacob Rees-Mogg, said he ultimately voted in favour of the measure because it was “improved over the status quo.”
“In light of the challenges encountered in recent days, the Conservative party has reunited.”
He added that almost every member of the Conservative party wants illegal immigrants to be returned to Rwanda; this is a point of unity.
One Tory source stated before the vote that the prime minister was “by no means out of the woods” despite the measure passing its third reading.
The bill will pass the House of Lords like it passed the third reading in the House of Commons: peers are anticipated to amend the legislation, which will then be debated and voted on.
During the amendment process, a procedure known as parliamentary “ping pong” will likely ensure that the legislation moves between the House of Commons and the House of Lords.
Before casting a vote on the measure, Members of Parliament deliberated on a series of amendments intended to strengthen the legislation during the debate on Wednesday evening.
One, put forth by Mr Jenrick, advocated for the non-binding nature of rule 39 orders issued by Strasbourg justices for the United Kingdom.
As a result of Rule 39 orders, which are frequently issued at this late hour (hence the nickname “pyjama injunctions”), the inaugural flight to Rwanda was halted in June 2022.
Although a majority of 469 ballots ultimately rejected the amendment proposed by Mr Jenrick, the rebellion was noteworthy as 67 MPs supported it.
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Resignations and Legislative Milestone
61 Conservative Members of Parliament (MPs), including the two tellers responsible for verifying the tally, voiced their discontent with specific aspects of the measure.
Following the resignations of three MPs—Mr Stephenson, a parliamentary private secretary in the Department of Business and Trade; Mr Anderson and Brendan Clarke-Smith, deputy chairs of the Conservative Party; and Mr Sunak—Members of Parliament (MPs) who harboured scepticism regarding the legislation had been actively involved with Downing Street.
The Members of Parliament tendered their resignations after they supported amendments presented by seasoned Members of Parliament, Sir Bill Cash and Mr Jenrick, on Tuesday evening.
As stated by a spokesman for Number 10, the bill’s passage “signifies a significant advancement in our strategy to halt the vessels.”
They stated that this is the most stringent legislation ever introduced in parliament to combat illegal migration. It will make it plain that those who enter the country illegally will not be permitted to remain.
“This administration and the Conservative Party are responsible for the reduction of boat crossings by over one-third.”
We are well-organized and have made strides; this landmark legislation will guarantee that flights to Rwanda depart, dissuade individuals from undertaking perilous journeys across the Channel, and halt the flow of vessels.
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