Rebels Abstain, Allowing Sunak's Plan to Pass
Rishi Sunak's flagship immigration legislation narrowly survived a showdown in the Commons, despite numerous right-wing MPs withdrawing their support at the last minute. While 38 Tory MPs abstained from voting, not a single one voted against the bill, allowing the Prime Minister to secure a slim victory.
Rebels Warn of Future Troubles
Although the rebellion was averted this time, rebel ringleader Mark Francois issued a warning to Downing Street, stating that they would seek to strengthen the bill after Christmas. This sets the stage for potential conflicts in the New Year.
Critical Backbenchers Refuse Further Changes
Tory backbenchers in the center of the party have made it clear that they will not accept any more alterations to the bill. After a meeting of conservative right-wing caucuses, Francois stated that while they would abstain from supporting the bill, they would not vote against it entirely.
Defeat Would Have Caused Crisis for PM
If the bill had been defeated, it would have caused a major crisis for the Prime Minister and likely led to renewed calls for an election from the Labour Party. The last time the government lost a "second reading" vote was in 1986.
Tensions Rise as Rebels Face "Consequences"
Tory rebels were warned of potential "consequences" if they voted against the bill, leading to a confrontation between rebel Sir Bill Cash and Chief Whip Simon Hart. The rebels criticized Hart's lack of engagement with them prior to the vote.
Sunak Leads Intense Lobbying Efforts
Prime Minister Rishi Sunak personally led a day of intense lobbying, including a breakfast meeting with hardline MPs and a last-minute appeal to support the bill. The PM emphasized that backing the bill was necessary to stop illegal immigration.
Centrist Tories Refuse to Accept Hardening of Bill
The One Nation caucus of Tory centrists has made it clear that they will not support any further hardening of the bill. This limits Sunak's room for maneuvering and adds to the challenges he faces in passing future legislation.
Civil War Erupts within Tory Party
A Tory civil war erupted following the resignation of Immigration Minister Robert Jenrick, who argued that the legislation was too weak. The bill disallows certain aspects of the Human Rights Act but does not completely override it, which has raised concerns among MPs.
Overall, Rishi Sunak managed to scrape by with a slim victory for his immigration plan, but challenges lie ahead as rebels warn of future opposition and tensions within the party continue to rise.
