More than 30 rightwing MPs back plot to toughen Rishi Sunak's Bill
Tory rebels have launched a bid to harden the Rwanda plan, aiming to automatically overrule meddling European judges. Over 30 rightwing MPs are backing the bid to hijack Rishi Sunak's Bill, so it also throws out challenges from individual migrants.
Conservative "Wets" Warn Against Toughening Legislation
The Prime Minister is in a tight spot as some Conservative MPs have warned that any toughening of the legislation will result in them withdrawing their support. Damian Green, leader of the One Nation caucus of moderates, claimed that Mr. Sunak had assured him that the Bill would not go any further.
"Five Families" Cabal Back Amendments to End Legal Blocks
The "Five Families" cabal of hawkish backbenchers, who abstained from voting in December, believes the current draft law is too weak. They are supporting an amendment to "end the merry-go-round" of legal blocks to deportation flights. The proposed changes would ignore Strasbourg judges as a default if they demanded a deportation flight to be stopped on European Court of Human Rights grounds.
Proposed Reforms to Bar Individual Asylum Seekers from Court Challenges
The proposed reforms would also bar individual asylum seekers from fighting their removal with endless court challenges in most cases. The group claims that their reforms have the support of leading lawyers who insist it does not breach international law.
Mr. Jenrick: "The Stakes for the Country Could Not Be Higher"
Robert Jenrick, one of the MPs backing the amendments, said that if they don't fix the Bill, the country will see more illegal crossings and wasted taxpayer money. He believes that Parliament has the power and responsibility to solve the crisis.
One Nation Conservatives Threaten Opposition to Further Toughening
The 100-strong group of One Nation Conservatives has threatened to oppose any further toughening of the Bill. Damian Green stated that the Prime Minister had assured him that he doesn't want to go any further.
Immigration Minister Tom Pursglove emphasized that the Rwanda Bill is the "single toughest piece of immigration legislation" ever introduced in the house and that the government is committed to sending illegal migrants to Kigali as soon as possible.
