RISHI Sunak has ordered a weekend charm offensive on Tory Rwanda rebels as they prepare to skewer his plan.
The Sun has been told the “Star Chamber” of legal experts convened by right-wing MPs to pore over the emergency legislation is set to deliver a scathing verdict.
PAPM Rishi Sunak has ordered a ring round of rebels this weekend[/caption]
Insiders warned the ability of migrants to lodge individual claims was a major “sticking point” of the Bill that would see removal attempts bogged down in the courts.
Ahead of next Tuesday’s first vote, allies of the PM are slamming the phones to talk round sceptical backbenchers.
New immigration ministers Michael Tomlinson and Tom Pursglove are targeting their old pals on the Conservative right, along with No10 top aide Will Tanner.
Mr Sunak is said to be “confident” of his Rwanda Bill sailing through the first Commons test where MPs vote on the principle of the legislation.
READ MORE ON POLITICS
No10 were buoyed yesterday when two right-wing MPs – James Daly and Philip Davies – wrote a piece calling on colleagues to back the PM.
A Tory civil war broke out following the resignation of Immigration Minister Robert Jenrick, who said the legislation was too weak to make the Rwanda plan a success.
While it disapplies elements of the Human Rights Act, it does not completely overrule it and also the European Convention on Human Rights MPs like Suella Braverman wanted.
A wavering right-winger backbencher said: “There will be some abstentions, but most will likely hold their nose and vote it through before looking to harden it up later.
“But most are waiting for the Star Chamber to give their assessment, that will be crucial.”
Most read in The Sun
Another MP added: “Many are keeping their powder dry for the Star Chamber. If they give the thumbs down, then let’s see what happens.”
Tory grandee Sir Bill Cash, who is chairing the legal panel, will deliver his make-or-break verdict in the coming days.
A figure on the Tory right said last night: “Things are going to get very nasty if No10 tries to bully us on this. Remember we cut our teeth during the Brexit wars.”
Mr Pursglove yesterday suggested the Bill could be amended ahead of the “third reading” final Commons vote after Christmas.
But government sources played down the idea of any changes, with one Sunak ally saying: “If we go even harder the Rwandans won’t accept it, and if we soften it it won’t work.”
The One Nation caucus of Tory centrists are also due to give their judgement of the Bill amid fears they could move to water it down.
A Number 10 spokesman said: “We’ll be setting out why we believe our approach is the best and swiftest way to get flights off the ground.”
It came as ministers defended handing Rwanda a further £150million despite no migrants being removed – saying it pales in comparison to their eye-watering hotel bills.
It comes on top of the £140million already sent to Kigali since the initial deal last year – hiking the total bill to £290million.
Mr Pursglove said: “I think it’s right that we go about this in the way that we are and when you consider that we’re spending £8million a day currently in the asylum system you have to look at those spends in that context. That is not sustainable.”
Published: [#item_custom_pubDate]
