and the EU
Join our email list for updates on Brexit’s impact on the UK and EU.
Join our Brexit newsletter to stay updated with the latest information.
Rishi Sunak has been cautioned that he will encounter difficulties in getting his significant legislation for Rwanda approved by parliament. This struggle is reminiscent of Theresa May’s battle with a deeply divided Conservative Party regarding Brexit.
The tenth political party is remaining steadfast in their decision not to alter the deportation legislation, despite pressure from conservative members to revise the bill or risk a potential challenge to their leadership.
Mr. Sunak was cautioned against the plan to hold a sudden national election in early next year in case his legislation becomes delayed in parliament. The leader of the Conservative party was advised that this move could have negative consequences and harm the party’s chances of remaining in control.
New problems arose when it was revealed that a government legal evaluation only gives the bill a “50 per cent at best” possibility of successfully launching flights.
Robert Jenrick, who recently resigned as immigration minister, escalated the situation by accusing Mr. Sunak of not keeping his promise and advocating for Britain to withdraw from the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR).
The uncompromising individual asserted in a scathing opinion article that Mr Sunak’s proposal would not succeed. Mr Jenrick advised the Conservative party that it was imperative for the UK to remove itself from global agreements, or else risk facing the wrath of enraged voters.
Sunak is currently trying to persuade members of the Conservative Party, from both its moderate and conservative factions, to refrain from rebelling in the crucial vote on Tuesday. He is working to pass a law in reaction to the Supreme Court’s decision against the Rwanda program.
.
It has been recommended that Mr. Sunak refrain from calling an unplanned national election in the beginning of next year if his proposed legislation becomes delayed in parliament.
Many conservative Members of Parliament are urging Mr. Sunak to take more drastic action by withdrawing from the European Convention on Human Rights. They are also frustrated that individuals seeking asylum will have the opportunity to contest deportation based on personal circumstances.
The hardline faction – including members of the 35-strong New Conservatives, the Common Sense Group and the European Research Group – are locked in discussions about legal advice from its “star chamber” this weekend.
Fortunately, according to The Independent, there is some good news for No 10. It appears that instead of defying the PM this Tuesday, they will likely attempt to modify the bill and postpone a decision on whether to reject it until January.
A senior member of the Conservative party expressed that it is probable that conservative MPs with strong beliefs will concentrate on persuading Mr. Sunak to reconsider during the committee stage. They may also postpone making a decision to vote against the government until the final reading.
The conservative politician stated that Mr. Sunak should take the time to listen to those who believe that the bill will not effectively restart air travel. They added, “The prime minister’s decision-making has been influenced by poor advice. Attempting to find a compromise between two opposing options will ultimately result in a solution that accomplishes nothing – you can’t be partially pregnant.”
They stated: “I do not believe it will be unsuccessful at this point [on Tuesday] – it is a matter of how the legislation is structured. We must make modifications.”
Robert Jenrick, who resigned from his position as immigration minister this week, has expressed concerns about the intense anger of Conservative Party supporters.
A member of the One Nation faction within the Tories, which has approximately 100 MPs backing it, stated that they will delay revealing their specific concerns until Monday. Lord Garnier, a former solicitor general who is advising the group, has already criticized the bill as being both politically and legally nonsensical.
Although there are uprisings occurring, Mr Sunak is unwilling to make significant alterations to the bill that would exempt the Human Rights Act and restrict blocking orders from the European court in Strasbourg.
A member of the government stated that the bill is as stringent as possible while still adhering to international law. The source mentioned that No 10 will review any proposed changes, but emphasized that this is the bill that will facilitate flights to Rwanda in the coming spring.
Gavin Barwell, the former chief of staff for Prime Minister Theresa May at 10 Downing Street, expressed to Times Radio that the current situation feels very much focused on Brexit. He also noted the challenges of trying to find a compromise between the two opposing factions within the party.
Renowned Conservative politician Robert Hayward cautioned Chancellor Rishi Sunak from attempting to schedule a snap election in the beginning of next year in the event that his proposed legislation faces challenges. The prominent expert in electoral matters also drew parallels between the current dispute and former Prime Minister Theresa May’s struggles with Brexit from 2016 to 2019.
In an interview with The Independent, Lord Hayward stated that elections centered around a single issue are not effective. He referenced Theresa May’s attempt to focus on Brexit in the 2017 election, which ultimately failed.
The highest-ranking colleague cautioned far-right insurgents against challenging Mr Sunak’s leadership, stating: “You would have to be quite oblivious to think that you could replace the leader without facing the anger of the general public.”
Sunak aims to overcome the current crisis by successfully passing his bill during the initial stage on Tuesday.
Formerly dismissed Home Secretary Suella Braverman has issued a grave caution to Mr. Sunak, expressing support for Mr. Jenrick’s op-ed in The Telegraph. She stated that her previous coworker is well-versed in the specifics and expressed concern over his inability to defend the bill.
Ms Braverman took to Twitter to add to the mounting pressure on the Prime Minister to take into account potential Conservative voters, posing the question, “How do we justify passing another law that ultimately fails?”
Fellow right-winger Simon Clarke, a former minister under Liz Truss, tweeted: “Nothing less than a paradigm shift will change a situation that is unsustainable for so many reasons – not least that the public won’t tolerate it.”
The Times initially reported that Victoria Prentis, the attorney general and cabinet minister, has been informed that the bill poses a substantial threat of the European court halting flights.
According to a report, the government’s legal department has given the plan a 50-50 chance of success. The report was signed off by top lawyer Sir James Eadie.
One report was confirmed by a source, while another tried to present the suggestion as just one of many opinions that the government had requested. Despite not contesting the advice, a government official stated, “We do not disclose or discuss government legal advice, and it would be highly inappropriate for anyone who has recently left the government to do so.”
Suella Braverman has led criticism of the PM’s plan as he fights to convince Tory MPs not to rebel in Tuesday’s crunch vote
Sir Iain Duncan Smith urged Tory MPs to pass a bill that “get those flights off to Rwanda” – stopping short of an endorsement for it in its current form. The ex-Tory leader told The Telegraph: “The reality is that we are in a more febrile state than under John Major.”
Former justice secretary, Dominic Raab, advised members of Parliament to support the bill instead of letting perfection stand in the way of progress. He encouraged those who oppose the bill to make necessary improvements during the committee stage, rather than rejecting it in Tuesday’s vote.
Government officials have been contacting members of parliament in an urgent attempt to gain support for the initial obstacle on Tuesday. Conservative deputy chair Rachel Maclean has proposed that the confrontation will essentially serve as a vote of confidence in the current administration.
The Liberal Democrats have alleged that Mr Sunak should be examined for potentially violating the ministerial code for not disclosing a £100m payment to Rwanda for the deportation program.
The party expressed their shock at the additional payment of £140m that was sent to Kigali in April, on top of the already paid amount. The Home Office’s chief civil servant, Sir Matthew Rycroft, revealed this information in a letter to MPs on Thursday, which was deemed as “outrageous.” Mr Rycroft is scheduled to be questioned by the public accounts select committee on Monday.
Next week, the Home Office plans to release a collection of evidence that will allegedly dismiss a statement from the UNHCR, the United Nations’ refugee agency, which states that Rwanda is not a safe country.
The source is the Independent, a UK-based news publication.
