Starmer accuses the Conservative Party of behaving like “rats in a sack” while the Prime Minister deals with a potential rebellion – live updates.

Starmer accuses the Conservative Party of behaving like "rats in a sack" while the Prime Minister deals with a potential rebellion - live updates.


Robert Jenrick steps down from his position as immigration minister due to the controversial Rwanda bill, dealing a significant setback to Rishi Sunak.

Sir Keir Starmer is expected to state that the Conservative party is unable to effectively govern as long as they continue to engage in internal strife, in a speech scheduled for Tuesday.

The Conservative party is currently experiencing internal conflicts regarding Rishi Sunak’s proposed deportation bill, which involves sending asylum seekers to Rwanda.

Right-wing conservatives are pressuring the Prime Minister to disregard the European Convention on Human Rights in order to fully implement the policy. This comes after the head of a prominent team of lawyers expressed concerns that the bill does not have enough safeguards in place.

The legislation is a final effort to get airplanes back in operation following the Supreme Court’s decision to deem the government’s previous plans unlawful.

On the day of the vote, Sir Keir is set to give a speech in which he will likely state: “While they are busy with their own importance, dividing into groups and engaging in secretive discussions, fighting amongst themselves, there is a country out here that is not being properly governed.”

He will assert that the turmoil within the Tory party is not confined to Rwanda, but rather a pervasive issue within the modern Conservative Party.

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According to a prominent attorney, the legislation in Rwanda has not been considered strong enough to withstand legal challenges.

The legislation proposed by Rishi Sunak for Rwanda has faced another setback, as a legal evaluation for the conservative faction determined that it is not suitable for its intended purpose.

The Prime Minister has been anticipating the decision of a group of lawyers, known as a “star chamber,” who are conducting an evaluation for the European Research Group consisting of members of the Conservative Party.

Although the official decision is anticipated for Monday, Sir Bill Cash, who headed a legal review, has indicated that the bill is not adequately secure.

The experienced Conservative expressed in the Sunday Telegraph that they had been pondering if the language is strong enough to align with the Government’s goals.

Currently, he stated that it does not. He expressed hope that our report will assist the Government in determining if the current version of the Bill is suitable for its intended purpose or if it needs to be further revised, possibly by the Government itself.

Athena Stavrou9 December 2023 22:51
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According to Keir Starmer, the Conservatives cannot effectively govern while constantly fighting amongst themselves.

On Tuesday, Sir Keir Starmer plans to state that the Conservatives are incapable of governing while they continue to quarrel amongst themselves like wild animals.

There is a dispute among factions within the Tory party regarding a bill proposed by Rishi Sunak, which involves the deportation of asylum seekers to Rwanda.

Right-leaning conservatives are currently waiting for legal advice before making a decision on whether to oppose the Prime Minister’s urgent legislation.

The group is pressuring the Prime Minister to disregard the European Conventions on Human Rights in order to successfully implement the policy.

However, some less extreme members of the Tory party are considering whether they can endorse the Bill, as they have reservations about forcing courts to determine if Rwanda is a “safe” destination for asylum seekers.

On the day of the planned vote, Sir Keir is anticipated to declare in his speech: “While they are all behaving arrogantly, divided into their groups and secret meetings, fighting amongst themselves, there is a nation out here that lacks proper governance.”

Athena Stavrou9 December 2023 22:31
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Members of Parliament who are unsuccessful in general elections will receive assistance paid for by taxpayers to help them find employment.

Members of Parliament who are not re-elected in the upcoming general election will receive financial assistance from taxpayers to help them secure new employment.

A representative from Commons confirmed to The Independent that the program was scheduled to be implemented before the upcoming election.

According to the initial report by the BBC, authorities are seeking to hire a recruitment agency for assistance with resume preparation and employment coaching.

A bipartisan committee suggested that Members of Parliament should receive medals and increased severance pay to support them after their time in office.

For MPs defeated at the 2019 election, the average loss-of-office payment was £5,250 – equivalent to just under one month of their £84,000 salary.

According to a document obtained by the BBC, the Commons authorities are considering implementing a new budget for career training support, although the possibility of offering medals and higher payouts is not currently being considered.

The plan may involve providing individuals who have lost their positions with access to career coaches who are available upon request, as well as other opportunities for networking.

Athena Stavrou9 December 2023 22:00
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A political expert cautions Sunak against scheduling an election in the upcoming year.

Mr Sunak was advised against the idea of calling a snap general election early next year if his bill gets stuck in parliament – amid warnings from election experts that it would backfire and destroy the Tories slim hopes of holding onto power.

Senior Conservative politician Robert Hayward drew a parallel between the current dispute and former Prime Minister Theresa May’s struggles with Brexit from 2016 to 2019.

The expert on elections stated to The Independent: “Elections based on a single issue are not effective. In 2017, Theresa May believed that her focus on Brexit would secure her victory, but the plan ultimately failed.”

The leader’s top peer cautioned rebel members on the right side of the political spectrum against attempting to overthrow Mr. Sunak’s leadership. They stated, “It would be foolish to think that changing the leader again would not anger the public.”

Athena Stavrou9 December 2023 21:00
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Conservative officials urge Members of Parliament not to rebel against the vote on Rwanda.

Prominent Conservative ministers and party members have advised MPs against rebelling in the impending parliamentary vote on Rishi Sunak’s proposals for Rwanda.

Government officials have been reaching out to Members of Parliament in a last-ditch effort to secure support for Tuesday’s initial obstacle. Conservative deputy chair Rachel Maclean has proposed that the upcoming showdown will essentially serve as a vote of confidence in the current administration.

Former justice secretary Dominic Raab urged MPs to support the bill instead of letting perfection get in the way, encouraging dissenters to make amendments during the committee stage rather than voting against it on Tuesday.

At the same time, Sir Iain Duncan Smith encouraged Conservative Members of Parliament to approve a proposed law that would “send those flights to Rwanda” – though he did not fully endorse it in its current version.

The former leader of the Conservative party stated to The Telegraph: “It is a fact that our current state is more volatile than during John Major’s time.”

<p>Dominic Raab told MP’s to back the bill </p>

Dominic Raab urged Members of Parliament to support the legislation.

Sam Rkaina9 December 2023 20:00
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According to the legal assessment, there is a 50% likelihood that Bill will be successful.

The latest development in Rishi Sunak’s proposed Rwanda bill has caused further complications, with news that the government’s official legal evaluation only gives the bill a “50 per cent at best” likelihood of successfully launching flights.

The Times initially reported that Victoria Prentis, the attorney general and cabinet minister, has been informed that the bill carries a high possibility of the European Court stopping flights.

According to a top lawyer, Sir James Eadie, the government’s legal department has officially given the plan a 50-50 chance of success.

One source supported the report, while another attempted to claim that the advice was just one of many opinions sought by the government. Without disagreeing with the advice, a government representative stated: “We do not disclose or discuss government legal advice, and it would be inappropriate for anyone who recently left the government to do so.”

Athena Stavrou9 December 2023 19:00
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Is Rishi Sunak likely to be persuaded to withdraw from the European Convention on Human Rights?

The far-right faction of the Conservative party is urging Rishi Sunak to disregard the limitations set by the European Convention on Human Rights.

The prime minister is facing criticism prior to a crucial vote in the House of Commons to support his proposal of relocating asylum-seekers to Rwanda.

Robert Jenrick, who recently resigned as the immigration minister, escalated the situation by accusing Mr. Sunak of not following through on his promises and advocating for Britain to withdraw from agreements such as the European Convention on Human Rights.

In a scathing opinion piece, Mr. Jenrick asserted that the UK must now separate itself from global agreements, cautioning the Tories about the intense anger of voters.

<p>Robert Jenrick said the UK needs to “extricate” itself from “international frameworks” such as the ECHR </p>

Robert Jenrick stated that it is necessary for the UK to remove itself from international agreements like the ECHR.

Athena Stavrou9 December 2023 18:05
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Sunak is challenged with a struggle similar to Brexit in passing the Rwanda bill.

Rishi Sunak has been warned he faces an uphill struggle to get his Rwanda bill through parliament reminiscent of Theresa’s fight with a bitter-divided Conservative party over Brexit.

No 10 is sticking its guns by refusing to make any major changes – but right-wing Tory MPs are urging the PM to “sit down and listen” to demands to toughen the bill or face a potential leadership challenge.

Many conservative members of Parliament are urging Mr. Sunak to take stronger measures in disregarding the European Convention on Human Rights. However, a source from the government stated that the bill is already as strict as it can be while still adhering to international law.

Gavin Barwell, who previously served as Theresa May’s chief of staff at No 10, stated on Times Radio that the current situation feels heavily influenced by Brexit. He also commented, “The party seems to be divided into two factions and it’s challenging to determine where we will ultimately end up.”

Read the full story from Adam Forrest below:

Athena Stavrou9 December 2023 17:03
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The Liberal Democrats are calling for an investigation into a secret £100 million payment made to Rwanda by Sunak.

The Liberal Democrats are calling for an investigation into Rishi Sunak to determine if he violated the ministerial code by not disclosing a payment of £100 million to Rwanda.

Sir Laurie Magnus, the ethics adviser to the Prime Minister, was requested to investigate the failure to disclose the most recent payment related to the asylum policy, which had gone unreported for eight months.

In April, an additional payment was sent to Kigali on top of the previous £140 million already paid. This information was only disclosed in a letter sent to Members of Parliament by Sir Matthew Rycroft, the top civil servant at the Home Office, on Thursday.

Liberal Democratic MP Christine Jardine expressed her outrage over the fact that the public was unaware of the actual expenses of the Rwanda deal for eight months.

She stated that the public should have access to all information, not secretive negotiations. A prompt investigation is necessary to uncover the truth.

<p>The Liberal Democrats have urged Rishi Sunak’s ethics adviser Sir Laurie Magnus to investigate his failure to declare a £100m payment to Rwanda</p>

The Liberal Democrats have requested that Sir Laurie Magnus, the ethics adviser for Rishi Sunak, look into his failure to disclose a payment of £100 million to Rwanda.

Athena Stavrou9 December 2023 15:22
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While serving as chancellor, Sunak did not hold a favorable view of the policies in Rwanda.

A report states that in the spring of 2022, Rishi Sunak and his team at the Treasury were not in favor of the Rwanda policy when it first came across the desk of the then-chancellor.

According to six individuals involved in the discussions, Mr Sunak and his colleagues expressed concerns to both Boris Johnson’s Downing Street and Cabinet members about the effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of the Rwanda scheme.

During his time as chancellor, it is alleged that he advocated for an increase in the number of international graduates who could remain in the country after completing their studies, for migrant workers to be able to bring their family members, and for a lower minimum salary requirement to attract more foreign workers, all with the goal of promoting economic growth. This stands in direct opposition to the recent policies proposed by his government, according to six sources familiar with the matter.

Andy Gregory9 December 2023 14:57

The given source is from the website independent.co.uk.