Alex McCurthy
In a surprising turn of events, Prime Minister Rishi Sunak emerged victorious in the Commons as his controversial Rwanda deportation bill secured a majority of 44 votes. Despite facing a rightwing rebellion within his own party, Sunak successfully navigated the political storm, quelling dissent and pushing his flagship immigration policy forward.
The prime minister is set to hold a press conference at No 9 Downing Street to provide an update on the government’s immigration policies and address questions from the media. This comes after the bill passed with a vote of 320 to 276, marking a critical moment in Sunak’s leadership.
While the immediate threat from Tory rebels has been averted, Sunak now faces a new challenge in the House of Lords. Crossbench peer Alex Carlile has warned of “significant attempts” to defeat the Rwanda Bill in the upper chamber, raising concerns about international treaty obligations and the reputation of the British legal system.
Despite the victory, Sunak’s Rwanda plan is not out of the woods yet. The government’s refusal to specify when flights to Rwanda will commence sets the stage for a prolonged battle in the House of Lords. The Labour Party’s commitment to convention makes it challenging for rebel peers to amass the numbers needed to overturn the government’s decision.
As Sunak prepares for a press conference to address the nation, the spotlight is on the implications of his victory. Home Office minister Chris Philp asserts that the Rwanda Bill should pass through the Lords “fairly fast” due to its relatively short length. However, the ongoing debates and potential amendments in the upper chamber could lead to political back-and-forth before the bill becomes law.
In the aftermath of the Commons vote, internal party dynamics are under scrutiny. Despite three resignations and a week of rebellion, Sunak’s ally Chris Philp insists that the prime minister has emerged “stronger.” The political landscape remains tense as Tory rightwingers, unsatisfied with the robustness of Sunak’s Rwanda plan, now shift their focus on persuading him to quit the European Court of Human Rights.
The stakes are high, with MPs stressing the need for Sunak to demonstrate the effectiveness of the legislation by ensuring flights to Rwanda commence by spring. Failure to do so may spell trouble for the prime minister’s electoral prospects, while the Labour Party maintains a substantial lead over the Conservatives in the latest polls.
The Rwanda Bill’s journey is far from over, as it moves to the House of Lords for further scrutiny, potentially reshaping the future of immigration policies in the UK.
