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Rishi Sunak has not been successful in addressing the crisis that could potentially destabilize his leadership. He has cautioned Tory dissenters that his plan for Rwanda is the sole solution to curbing small boat crossings.
During an impromptu media briefing, held shortly after the sudden departure of immigration minister Robert Jenrick, the Prime Minister addressed his detractors and warned that their requests would result in the failure of the contentious program.
Even though he tried to establish his power, Members of Parliament from both parties hinted at the possibility of rebelling in an important vote in the House of Commons next week.
Mr Sunak has faced a torrid 24 hours since he failed to appease the Tory right with his emergency Rwanda bill.
He was compelled to reject accusations that his government had turned into a source of amusement and ridicule due to the unsuccessful attempt to expel asylum seekers. He seemed to be imploring Labour to support his at-risk legislative proposal.
Amidst a significant uprising that poses a threat to his position as prime minister, he avoided answering inquiries about the possibility of being required to hold a nationwide election if he fails to resume flights to Rwanda.
Mr Sunak claimed there was only “an inch” between him and MPs on the right of the party – but hardliners remain furious that he chose not to opt out of the European Convention of Human Rights (ECHR).
Rishi Sunak avoided answering inquiries about the possibility of a compulsory general election.
There is increasing speculation that Mr. Sunak may need to turn Tuesday’s vote into a matter of confidence in the government. This would involve threatening his MPs with expulsion and the possibility of a general election if they oppose him.
During a press conference on Thursday, a grumpy Mr. Sunak refuted claims that he was prepared to turn the vote into a “support or remove me” situation. When questioned about potential consequences for Conservative MPs who oppose the vote, Mr. Sunak replied with a simple “no.”
The politician avoided answering questions about a potential election and instead emphasized the importance of demonstrating concern for voters’ issues. He stated that the vote was a test of parliament’s ability to address the frustrations of the British people.
However, both sides of his party were not immediately convinced by Mr. Sunak’s attempt to display his power.
The ERG, a group of eurosceptics within the party’s right wing, stated that their “star chamber” may need several days to evaluate whether or not MPs should support the new emergency legislation.
The One Nation group, consisting of less extreme Tory MPs, expressed concern about the Bill and may encourage their members to vote against it.
Tobias Ellwood, a prominent member of the Conservative Party, stated that he would not back the Rwanda legislation if it involved violating international law. He also cautioned that this issue could potentially cause a divide within the Conservative Party.
However, ex-Conservative leader Lord Howard expressed support for Mr Sunak and stated, “I sincerely hope that it will receive the backing of Conservative MPs.”
He stated, “I am willing to trust the opinion of Lord Sumption, a former member of the Supreme Court, if he believes it is feasible.”
Previously, Mr. Sunak seemed to implore Labour for assistance in passing his bill, which would “disapply” the UK Human Rights Act in cases of deportation to Rwanda.
Mr Sunak said: “The real question, when it comes to all these votes, if for the Labour party. So the real question when it comes to parliament … what are the Labour party going to do about this vote?”
On Thursday, Rishi Sunak stood by his proposal during an unexpected media briefing.
According to Mr Sunak, there is only a small distinction between himself and the right-wing members of the Conservative party who are rebelling. The PM stated, “The difference between us is minimal… but that slight variation is significant, especially in the grand scheme of things.”
The leader of the Conservative party cautioned conservative MPs that the government of Rwanda may withdraw from the deportation plan in its entirety. “If we continue, the entire program will fail and there is no purpose in having a bill without a destination for individuals.”
When questioned about the credibility of his government regarding immigration, Mr Sunak defended the decrease in small boat crossings and expressed confidence in his plan to use Rwanda flights. He highlighted the success of these efforts by stating that the number of people crossing from France to the UK has decreased by a third this year.
Mr Jenrick’s resignation letter strongly indicated his desire to circumvent the ECHR, referring to the bill as “a triumph of hope over experience”. Former home secretary Suella Braverman, who was fired, stated to the BBC that “in the end, this bill will not succeed.”
Mr. Sunak is currently facing a difficult challenge of gaining support from voters on both the conservative right, who were in favor of a strict approach towards the European Convention on Human Rights, and moderate members in the “One Nation” group who have expressed concerns about supporting any laws that go against human rights.
According to reports, the Prime Minister is contemplating turning the critical vote on the legislation into a confidence issue for the government. This first vote, which has been confirmed for Tuesday, is considered crucial.
According to traditional practice, the Prime Minister would either step down or dissolve parliament and hold an election if they are unsuccessful in a vote. However, sources from No 10 have downplayed the notion that this will be considered a vote of confidence.
Sunak held a press conference and was accompanied by his home secretary, James Cleverly.
According to reports, Mr Sunak is concerned about the increasing amount of no confidence letters being turned in. This comes with warnings that he may soon encounter a leadership challenge from the conservative side.
The possibility of a leadership vote for Mr. Sunak is not likely, according to Cabinet minister Chris Heaton-Harris. He stated that it is “very unlikely” that there will be 55 letters submitted to the 1922 committee. The Northern Ireland secretary also commented on LBC that the chances are “vanishingly small.”
The recent Sunak legislation contains measures that would prevent the use of certain portions of the Human Rights Act in deportation court rulings, but does not attempt to remove the European Convention on Human Rights.
The new law will guarantee that UK officials have the final say on whether or not to follow temporary rulings from the European Court of Human Rights, which oversees the ECHR in Strasbourg.
Mr. Sunak cautioned the judges at the Strasbourg court that he would take necessary actions to ensure that flights are able to take off if they attempted to interfere.
A group of hardline individuals, consisting of members from the New Conservatives, the Common Sense Group, and the European Research Group, have gathered to discuss and determine whether they will support the new bill.
Damian Green, a senior moderate member of the Tory party and chair of the One Nation group, has cautioned Mr. Sunak against disregarding both the European Convention on Human Rights and the Human Rights Act.
A representative for the One Nation group expressed approval for the government’s choice to uphold “international obligations”, and seeking legal counsel on whether to back the bill.
Even though centrists are cautiously supporting it, Tobias Ellwood, a senior moderate, stated that he would not endorse the Rwanda legislation if there is a possibility of violating international laws. He emphasized the importance of adhering to international law rather than breaking it in an interview with Times Radio. Mr. Ellwood also expressed concern that the controversy surrounding the Rwanda bill is causing division within the party.
Mr Sunak was joined by home secretary James Cleverly and two new immigration ministers at his press conference, having split ministerial responsibility for legal and illegal migration as he replaced Mr Jenrick.
Michael Tomlinson has been appointed as the minister for handling illegal migration, while Tom Pursglove, a right-wing advocate for Brexit, will serve as the minister for legal migration.
Source: independent.co.uk
